Season 1

E1 - Maomao

Source: Crunchyroll
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Editor:
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(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
[01:37] Luomen
    Maomao.
[01:39] Maomao
    Hmm?
[01:41] Luomen
    Could you deliver some medicine
    to the Verdigris House?
[01:44] Maomao
    Yeah, got it, Dad.
[01:48] Luomen
    Be careful out there.
    Kidnappings are on the rise.
[01:52] Maomao
    I'll be fine. I'll stop by
     the herb plot on my way back.
[01:56] Luomen
    Yes, please do.
[01:58] Maomao
    I'm off!
SIGN    Verdigris House
[02:22] Old Lady
    Huh, is this all you've got?
[02:25] Customer
    It's my life savings! I beg you!
[02:31] Old Lady
    This is a non-starter.
[02:34] Customer
    That must be Pairin, one of the famous
    Three Princesses of the Verdigris House!
[02:38] Old Lady
    If you want to gawk, pay up!
[02:49] Maomao
    Hmm, it's taking too long to heal.
[02:51] Maomao
    I'll tweak the recipe some.
[02:52] Pairin
    Oh, Maomao!
[02:55] Maomao
    Hey, Pairin.
[02:56] Pairin
    Hey, you have more wounds again!
[03:00] Maomao
    It's just my usual drug experiments.
[03:03] Pairin
    Are you eating well?
[03:05] Maomao
    You seem to be very well nourished, as always.
[03:08] Old Lady
    Maomao!
[03:09] Old Lady
    You'd better not be setting off explosions
    again for your so-called experiments!
[03:16] Old Lady
    Or, would you like to start
     a career as a courtesan?
[03:19] Maomao
    Yikes!
[03:20] Maomao
    Granny, I left your meds here!
[03:22] Old Lady
    Say hi to your old man for me. Sheesh.
[03:25] Joka
    Did I just hear Maomao's voice?
[03:27] Meimei
    Hey, where's Maomao?
[03:29] Pairin
    She took off.
[03:31] Maomao
    That shrewd old bag, always trying
    to make me a courtesan...
[03:50] Maomao
    Could it be? Kidnappers?!
[03:58] Maomao
    Dad's gonna be really worried...
[04:18] Guen
    The prince is born!
[04:20] Guen
    Congratulations, Lady Lihua!
[04:30] Hongniang
    The prince was born safely.
[04:33] Gyokuyou
    I see. Wonderful.
SIGN    Three months later
SIGN    Episode 1: Maomao
[04:48] Maomao
    I want meat skewers from a stall...
[04:52] Maomao
    I wonder if Dad's eating properly.
[04:57] Maomao
    I'm not sure if I was sold off or ransomed,
    but annoyingly, it's already been three months.
[05:04] Maomao
    The palace and the brothels are really similar.
[05:07] Maomao
    If I had a choice, I'd have nothing to do
    with the rear palace, ever. But...
[05:12] Maomao
    Well, what can I do, now that I'm here?
[05:15] Maomao
    I was living a pretty good life
    as an apothecary, and now...
[05:21] Maomao
    The rear palace is a garden of women
    who are to give birth to the emperor's children.
[05:25] Maomao
    No men are allowed to enter.
[05:28] Maomao
    The only people allowed in here
    are the emperor, his kin,
[05:33] Maomao
    and eunuchs, "formerly male" individuals
    who lost an important part of their body.
[05:39] Maomao
    It's a huge collective of two thousand
    concubines and servants,
[05:42] Maomao
    and one thousand eunuchs.
[05:45] Maomao
    Unlike the high, mid,
    and low-ranking concubines,
[05:49] Maomao
    we serving girls are expendable
    and can lose our lives at any moment.
[05:56] Maomao
    Next in line are the shut-in,
    low-ranking concubines.
[05:58] Maomao
    I guess, at the very least, I get paid.
[06:02] Xiaolan
    Hey, Maomao...
[06:04] Xiaolan
    Do you know which room this plate is for?
[06:07] Maomao
    Oh. This one is Wisteria-9, so over there.
[06:11] Xiaolan
    Thank you!
[06:14] Maomao
    Many of the servants are illiterate.
[06:17] Maomao
    In order to work in the rear palace,
[06:19] Maomao
    they're taught the bare minimum
    essentials of etiquette.
[06:22] Maomao
    But reading and writing
    is a whole different story.
[06:25] Maomao
    The raise I would get for being literate
    would just get swiped by my kidnappers.
[06:32] Maomao
    That said, even servants like us
    could become low-ranking concubines.
[06:36] Maomao
    What's key is...
[06:39] Maomao
    Looks.
[06:41] Maomao
    Freckles.
[06:42] Maomao
    Flat.
[06:44] Maomao
    Given my skin-and-bones look,
    that's not applicable to me.
[06:53] Maomao
    If I stood out, my life would be
    at risk. I'm better off just laying low.
[06:59] Maomao
    All I have to do is work hard.
    I'll be out in two years.
[07:04] Maomao
    I need a drink.
[07:09] Xiaolan
    Hey, did you hear?
[07:10] Maomao
    Huh?
[07:11] Xiaolan
    I heard there's a super beautiful
    eunuch in the central area.
[07:15] Xiaolan
    Everyone's been talking about him!
[07:18] Maomao
    I see.
[07:19] Xiaolan
    I'd like to get a glimpse of him,
    if he's so handsome!
[07:23] Xiaolan
    Am I right?
[07:25] Maomao
    A eunuch, huh?
[07:55] Gaoshun
    She has lost much weight.
[07:57] Jinshi
    Yes.
[08:04] Gyokuyou
    Xiaoling...
[08:06] Jinshi
    I'm sorry, the physician is busy
    attending to the prince.
[08:13] Gyokuyou
    I see...
[08:17] Servant A
    They're only three months and six months old, right?
[08:19] Servant B
    Yeah, both the prince and Princess Lingli...
[08:24] Xiaolan
    Is it really a curse?!
[08:27] Maomao
    What are you talking about?
[08:28] Xiaolan
    You didn't hear, Maomao?
[08:30] Xialoan
    The entire rear palace
    is buzzing about this rumor.
[08:34] Xiaolan
    The deaths of all the heirs
    born in the rear palace!
[08:38] Xiaolan
    All three of the emperor's children
    born so far grew weak and passed away!
[08:43] Xiaolan
    Doesn't that seem weird?!
[08:45] Maomao
    All three?
[08:46] Xiaolan
    And it looks like the same
    thing's happening now.
[08:49] Maomao
    You mean they're unwell?
[08:50] Xiaolan
    Yes! And this time, the doctor went to visit
    both Lady Gyokuyou and Lady Lihua!
[08:58] Maomao
    Huh...
[08:59] Xiaolan
    The emperor doesn't have an empress
    consort, so that makes Lady Lihua,
[09:02] Xiaolan
    who gave birth to the prince,
    the empress consort, right?!
[09:05] Maomao
    Naturally, I guess.
[09:07] Maomao
    Since there is no empress consort,
[09:10] Maomao
    Concubine Lihua gave birth to the prince,
[09:11] Maomao
    so she should be considered
    the top of the rear palace.
[09:14] Xiaolan
    But then, rumor says the emperor
    favors Lady Gyokuyou.
[09:19] Xiaolan
    They say that could be
    related to the curse, too.
[09:23] Maomao
    A power struggle...
[09:26] Xiaolan
    Lady Lihua might be worse off,
    since the doctor is always with her.
[09:32] Maomao
    Lady Lihua herself is sick, too?
[09:34] Xiaolan
    Yeah, mother and child both.
    Head and stomach aches.
[09:37] Xiaolan
    Nausea too, I think.
[09:41] Maomao
    Headache, stomachache, nausea...
[09:45] Xiaolan
    It has to be a curse!
[09:49] Maomao
    Curses are stupid.
[09:52] Xiaolan
    Huh?
[09:58] Maomao
    Headache, stomachache, nausea...
[10:01] Maomao
    Poison is a possibility.
[10:03] Maomao
    No, if it's over the position of imperial heir,
[10:05] Maomao
    it doesn't make sense to go after the princess.
[10:07] Maomao
    Deliberate poisoning is low on the list of possibilities.
[10:10] Maomao
    Could an illness be more likely?
[10:14] Maomao
    Perhaps something hereditary?
[10:18] Maomao
    Why am I taking a rumor so seriously?
[10:22] Maomao
    It's all just conjecture.
[10:26] Maomao
    But still...
[10:29] Maomao
    I guess I can take a quick peek.
[10:36] Maomao
    Given this is where all the high-ranked
    concubines' pavilions are,
[10:39] Maomao
    every building is exquisite,
    right down to the individual pillars.
[10:47] Lihua
    It's your fault!
[10:48] Yinghua
    Lady Gyokuyou!
[10:50] Lihua
    You're trying to curse my son,
    because your child is a daughter!
[10:54] Gyokuyou
    You know that's absurd!
[10:58] Gyokuyou
    My Xiaoling is sick, too!
[11:01] Eunuch A
    Lady Lihua is furious.
[11:04] Eunuch B
    I feel sorry for Lady Gyokuyou.
[11:06] Gaoshun
    Master Jinshi...
[11:10] Gyokuyou
    That's why I'd like you to examine
    my daughter's state, as well.
[11:14] Guen
    Yes... Well... Um...
[11:16] Maomao
    Is that flustered eunuch
    in the middle the physician?
[11:20] Maomao
    What a stupid quack.
[11:22] Maomao
    He seriously still hasn't noticed? After
    spending all that time near the concubines?
[11:27] Maomao
    Or rather...
[11:28] Maomao
    Maybe he really doesn't know?
[11:31] Maomao
    Death of the infants.
    Headache, stomachache, nausea.
[11:35] Maomao
    And most of all, how
    Lady Lihua seems so worn out.
[11:39] Maomao
    As I thought, this is no curse.
[11:43] Maomao
    The only issue is, how do I tell them?
[11:46] Maomao
    If only I could find something to write with...
[12:31] Maomao
    Barely a month passed before word got around
[12:34] Maomao
    that the prince had passed away.
[12:41] Gyokuyou
    It seems like you have a question for me.
[12:45] Jinshi
    Is that...
[12:47] Gyokuyou
    The day I visited the Crystal Pavilion
    to ask to have my daughter examined,
[12:52] Gyokuyou
    I found this on the windowsill,
    tied to this branch.
[12:58] Jinshi
    A rhododendron.
[13:00] Gyokuyou
    "The white face powder is poison.
    Don't let the baby touch it."
[13:05] Gyokuyou
    It truly is a sin to be ignorant.
[13:08] Jinshi
    The palace physician would not take
    such a roundabout approach.
[13:12] Gyokuyou
    Agreed. He never could seem
    to figure out how to treat the prince.
[13:17] Jinshi
    Who could have sent this message?
[13:20] Gyokuyou
    I'd like you to find out.
[13:27] Jinshi
    Coming to think of it, back then...
[13:30] (Flashback) Maomao
    If only I could find something to write with...
[13:37] Jinshi
    Understood.
[13:39] Jinshi
    May I keep this for the time being?
[13:48] Xiaolan
    I heard the emperor is visiting
    Lady Gyokuyou a lot,
[13:51] Xiaolan
    to show his love for
    the surviving princess.
[13:54] Maomao
    What about Lady Lihua?
[13:56] Xiaolan
    Haven't heard anything about her.
[13:59] Maomao
    How convenient.
[14:01] Eunuch C
    Oh, there you are.
[14:04] Eunuch C
    You are to report to the Matron
    of the Serving Women immediately.
[14:08] Xiaolan
    You're being summoned?
[14:10] Maomao
    For what, I wonder?
[14:12] Eunuch C
    All right, all of you who've
    gathered here, head inside.
[14:17] Maomao
    Serving girls getting summoned by
    the high officials can't be good news...
[14:23] Maomao
    Or do they just want more workers?
[14:36] Jinshi
    Thank you all for coming.
[14:43] Maomao
    Who is this arrogant-looking woman?
[14:49] Jinshi
    I am Jinshi, manager of the rear palace.
[14:57] Maomao
    That's a man?
[14:58] Maomao
    Ah, that must be the good-looking
    eunuch that Xiaolan was talking about.
[15:04] Maomao
    That's a waste. He's so handsome,
    but he can't have children.
SIGN    You with the freckles, stay here
[15:12] Maomao
    Huh? Freckles? Stay...?
[15:16] Maomao
    Oh, no!
[15:20] Jinshi
    We're done here. You may
     all return to your rooms.
[15:23] Servant 1
    Huh?
[15:24] Servant 2
    What was that about?
[15:26] Maomao
    Did I do something to get attention?!
[15:29] Maomao
    Wait, did the message from the other day...
[15:32] Maomao
    Ah!
[15:33] Maomao
    I'm the only servant here who can read!
[15:36] Maomao
    He wrote that just now to single me out!
[15:39] Maomao
    Oh no, I have to get out!
[15:41] Jinshi
    Come now, I just told you to stay.
[15:46] Jinshi
    Just keep quiet and follow me.
[15:54] Maomao
    It was a trap...
[15:56] Jinshi
    This is odd. I looked you up.
    It said you couldn't read.
[16:02] Maomao
    I am of lowly birth. It must be a mistake.
[16:08] Maomao
    I'll never admit it. Pretending to be ignorant
    makes everything easier in this world.
[16:13] Maomao
    Besides, how did this man
    find out about the messages?
[16:17] Maomao
    I made absolutely sure nobody was around...
[16:24] Maomao
    He's so mistrustful!
[16:27] Maomao
    Rather, he must have nothing better to do!
[16:30] Hongniang
    Please.
[16:31] Jinshi
    Excuse me.
[16:33] Maomao
    What will I be punished for?
[16:35] Maomao
    I hope I make it out of this alive.
[16:42] Jinshi
    I brought her.
[16:44] Gyokuyou
    Come in.
[16:51] Gyokuyou
    Thank you for your trouble.
[16:57] Maomao
    I'm so glad.
[17:00] Gyokuyou
    So, it was you.
[17:02] Gyokuyou
    Thank you for saving Lingli's life.
[17:06] Maomao
    P-Please, I'm not worthy of such kindness!
[17:11] Gyokuyou
    No, I can't ever thank you enough.
[17:15] Gyokuyou
    You are my baby's savior.
[17:17] Maomao
    Perhaps you have the wrong person?
[17:20] Maomao
    There must be a misunderstanding.
[17:23] Maomao
    I don't want to get beheaded for lying,
[17:25] Maomao
    but I don't want to get involved, either!
[17:31] Jinshi
    Concubine Gyokuyou showed me something.
SIGN    The white face powder is poison. Don't let the baby touch it.
[17:37] Jinshi
    Did you know this fabric is used
    in the clothing for the serving girls?
[17:42] Maomao
    It does look similar, I suppose...
[17:45] Jinshi
    Yes, for those who work on clothing, I hear.
[17:48] Jinshi
    Like a laundry worker, such as yourself.
[17:53] Jinshi
    Did you rip apart a skirt, perhaps?
[17:59] Maomao
    So, he figured out that much already...
[18:02] Jinshi
    Now, you will explain why you put
    that flower on the windowsill.
[18:18] Maomao
    Because I figured out what was wrong that day.
[18:21] Maomao
    That the cause was the makeup powder.
[18:24] Maomao
    There were many courtesans
[18:26] Maomao
    who used high-end powder
    in the brothels that I grew up in.
[18:30] Maomao
    Most of them were poisoned
    by it and lost their lives.
[18:39] Maomao
    They tried to trade life
    for beauty and lost both.
[18:53] Maomao
    I used to be an apothecary,
    so I know a few things about poisons.
[19:07] Jinshi
    That face powder...
[19:09] Gyokuyou
    It was used by the baby's nurse.
[19:12] Gyokuyou
    She said it has a better whitening effect
    compared to other powders.
[19:17] Gyokuyou
    She seemed to have gotten ill too, so I gave
    her a break. I paid her properly, too.
[19:23] Jinshi
    I see.
[19:25] Gyokuyou
    It truly is a sin to be ignorant.
[19:27] Gyokuyou
    I should have paid more attention to
     the things that go into my baby's mouth.
[19:32] Jinshi
    I am guilty, as well.
[19:34] Jinshi
    Had I noticed sooner, I might
     have been able to save more lives.
[19:39] Jinshi
    The Prince, too...
[19:42] Gyokuyou
    When I saw the message, I told
    Concubine Lihua about it, as well.
[19:51] Gyokuyou
    But it seemed like everything
    I said only made her believe me less.
[19:56] Maomao
    So...
[19:59] Maomao
    What can I do for you?
[20:09] Gyokuyou
    Well, starting today, you'll
    be my lady-in-waiting!
[20:14] Maomao
    Huh?
[20:16] Narrator
    There are some things Maomao cannot hold back.
[20:19] Narrator
    Curiosity, a thirst for knowledge...
[20:22] Narrator
    And just a smidgen of a sense of justice.
[20:30] Mao
    No, no, no, no...
[20:34] Maomao
    No, if I keep a low profile,
    it shouldn't matter where I—
[20:34] Xiaolan
    Hey, Maomao!
[20:36] Xiaolan
    Welcome back, Maomao! How was it?
[20:39] Narrator
    And thus, Maomao became a
    lady-in-waiting of Concubine Gyokuyou,
[20:44] Narrator
    recipient of the emperor's love.
[20:46] Narrator
    Put simply, it was a big promotion.
[20:57] Soldier A
    Hey!
[21:01] Soldier A
    It's poison!
SIGN    Next Time
[22:46] Narrator
    Next time: "Chilly Apothecary."
SIGN    Episode 2: Chilly Apothecary

E2 - Chilly Apothecary

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
SIGN    Episode 2: Chilly Apothecary
[01:41] Soldier A
    Hey!
[01:44] Soldier A
    It's poison!
[01:47] Soldier B
    Damn you! Who's behind this?!
[01:51] Officer
    Wait.
[01:53] Officer
    Tend to the soldiers first.
[02:04] Jinshi
    Poison?
[02:05] Gaoshun
    The food was cooked by the villagers.
[02:08] Gaoshun
    The village leader has been put into
    custody for aiding the barbarians.
[02:12] Gaoshun
    Please advise.
[02:14] Jinshi
    Understood. Give me a moment.
[02:17] Gaoshun
    As you wish.
[02:19] Gaoshun
    By the way...
[02:20] Gaoshun
    I heard you hired a new lady-in-waiting
    to serve Concubine Gyokuyou.
[02:25] Jinshi
    Yes. Concubine Gyokuyou
    has only four women serving her.
[02:29] Jinshi
    It's too few compared to Concubine Lihua,
[02:31] Jinshi
    who also high-ranking and has over ten.
[02:35] Jinshi
    It hurts her dignity as
     a high-ranking concubine.
[02:38] Gaoshun
    Yes. However, Concubine Gyokuyou
     is not just bright and gentle,
[02:43] Gaoshun
    but also wise and cautious.
[02:46] Jinshi
    She would never hire
    someone of unknown origin.
[02:50] Jinshi
    Being constantly wary of
    everyone around them
[02:55] Jinshi
    is the only way an emperor's
    concubine can survive.
[02:57] Gaoshun
    And who is this new lady-in-waiting?
[03:01] Jinshi
    Gaoshun, I found just the right pawn.
[03:05] Jinshi
    It's that freckled servant girl.
[03:10] Jinshi
    Her knowledge of medicine
    is too valuable to pass up.
[03:13] Gaoshun
    I see. But if she were to abuse
    that knowledge...
[03:18] Jinshi
    I'll make sure she can't do that.
[03:21] Jinshi
    It should be easy.
[03:23] Jinshi
    I suppose I should seduce
    her a little, just in case.
[03:29] Xiaolan
    It's so cool that you get to serve
    a high-ranking concubine.
[03:32] Maomao
    Ugh, I really didn't want to.
[03:40] Jinshi
    Apothecary. Are you ready to move?
[03:43] Maomao
    Yes, I'm on my way to the Jade Pavilion soon.
[03:46] Maomao
    Did you need something?
[03:48] Jinshi
    No, nothing.
[03:50] Maomao
    Huh?
[03:52] Maomao
    Why's he here, then? Nothing better to do?
[03:58] Jinshi
    Be sure to serve Concubine Gyokuyou well.
[04:06] Maomao
    Excuse me.
[04:09] Xiaolan
    Good luck, Maomao!
[04:14] Maomao
    Ew, gross...
[04:20] Hongniang
    Are you Maomao?
[04:22] Maomao
    Oh, yes.
[04:24] Hongniang
    I am Hongniang,
    head lady-in-waiting for Lady Gyokuyou.
[04:28] Hongniang
    For starters, I'll show you around
    the Jade Pavilion. Follow me.
[04:32] Maomao
    Yes.
[04:37] Gyokuyou
    Welcome to the Jade Pavilion.
    I've been waiting for you, Maomao.
[04:44] Gyokuyou
    Looks like Xiaoling is happy to see you, too.
[04:47] Gyokuyou
    We're glad to have you around.
[04:52] Maomao
    Thank you.
[04:55] Hongniang
    This is the parlor, where we bring guests.
[04:59] Maomao
    So big...
[05:00] Hongniang
    This is the kitchen. You should be able
    to do some simple cooking here.
[05:04] Maomao
    Wow.
[05:06] Hongniang
    This is the living room.
[05:07] Hongniang
    Here are the other ladies-in-waiting.
    Let me introduce them to you.
[05:11] Hongniang
    Everyone, gather up.
[05:12] Ladies-in-waiting
    Yes!
[05:14] Yinghua
    Nice to meet you, I'm Yinghua. Ask me anything!
[05:19] Guiyuan
    I am Guiyuan. Nice to meet you.
[05:22] Ailan
    I am Ailan. Very pleased to meet you.
[05:27] Maomao
    I'm Maomao. Looking forward
    to working with you.
[05:31] Hongniang
    At the Jade Pavilion,
    we don't hire any serving girls.
[05:35] Hongniang
    So, we do all the work around here.
[05:38] Yinghua
    It's the least we can do to make sure
    Lady Gyokuyou lives comfortably.
[05:43] Maomao
    Then I'll also—
[05:44] Yinghua
    You go ahead and rest in your room.
[05:46] Maomao
    Huh?
[05:47] Guiyuan
    Take it easy.
[05:49] Ailan
    You have a special task coming up.
[05:52] Maomao
    Special task?
[05:54] Hongniang
    Maomao, I'll show you to your room.
[05:57] Maomao
    Um, sure.
[06:01] Yinghua
    Did you see her left arm?
[06:04] Yinghua
    She's hiding it with those bandages,
    but there are scars under them, right?
[06:08] Guiyuan
    She must have been abused
    by her parents back home,
[06:10] Guiyuan
    and sold off to the rear palace...
[06:13] Ailan
    On top of that, there's that terrible job...
[06:17] Three Ladies-in-waiting
    That poor, unfortunate girl!
[06:23] Hongniang
    Wait here until you're summoned, all right?
[06:25] Maomao
    Hey, um...
[06:32] Maomao
    I've gotten quite the promotion.
[06:37] Maomao
    The Jade Pavilion's always
    been run by a select elite.
[06:40] Maomao
    So of course a newcomer
    wouldn't be totally welcome.
[06:44] Maomao
    But they all looked so...
[06:48] Maomao
    Sympathetic? Why?
[06:53] Jinshi
    Tasting for poison.
[06:55] Jinshi
    That's your job, apothecary.
[06:59] Maomao
    Poison! Tasting for poison!
[07:04] Maomao
    Oops.
[07:06] Jinshi
    Food cooked for the concubine changes hands
    a few times before being brought here.
[07:15] Jinshi
    It's possible for it to be
    poisoned during that process.
[07:20] Jinshi
    In fact, when Concubine Gyokuyou
    became pregnant,
[07:23] Jinshi
    her food was poisoned at least twice.
[07:26] Jinshi
    The taster back then received nerve damage
    and still can't move her hands or feet.
[07:33] Maomao
    I see. That's why the others
    were sympathetic to me.
[07:38] Hongniang
    So... Here you go.
[07:42] Maomao
    These bowls...
[07:45] Maomao
    No suspicious colors. Or scents.
[07:52] Maomao
    No numbness.
[07:56] Maomao
    I can't detect any poison here.
[08:00] Maomao
    Back when I lived by the brothels,
    I ran a lot of experiments on my arm.
[08:07] (Flashback) Luomen
    Mad scientist.
[08:10] Maomao
    I've gradually trained my body against poisons,
    so many of them have no effect on me.
[08:15] Maomao
    To be honest, detecting
    poison isn't suited for me.
[08:19] Maomao
    But in a way, I'm lucky to get this job.
[08:25] Jinshi
    She's laughing...
[08:27] Maomao
    I think you should switch to silver plates.
    Those react to poisons.
[08:33] Hongniang
    It's like Master Jinshi said. We used
     ceramics on purpose to test you.
[08:41] Maomao
    That was his idea!
[08:45] Hongniang
    Your knowledge applies to both
     poisons and medicines, then.
[08:48] Maomao
    I used to work as an apothecary.
[08:51] Hongniang
    If you'd mentioned that you're literate,
    you would have gotten paid more.
[08:56] Maomao
    I was kidnapped and brought here,
[08:58] Maomao
    and I'm incensed that part of my pay
    gets sent to the kidnappers.
[09:05] Hongniang
    So, you'd rather take less pay than give
    your kidnappers drinking money, hmm?
[09:20] Hongniang
    Goodness, this was quite expensive.
[09:24] Hongniang
    You couldn't afford it with
    your lady-in-waiting salary.
[09:27] Hongniang
    How will you send money to your family?
[09:30] Hongniang
    In fact, we might need to charge them.
[09:34] Maomao
    Ah, I'm so sorry.
[09:38] Maomao
    Please take it out of the money to my family.
[09:40] Maomao
    If that's not enough,
     from my savings, too.
[09:43] Hongniang
    Yes, I'll arrange the paperwork.
[09:46] Hongniang
    By the way, here's hazard pay
    for your food tasting services.
[09:52] Maomao
    Almost equal to my regular salary...
[09:55] Maomao
    Since the kidnappers don't get
    a cut of this, it all goes to me.
[10:00] Maomao
    Thank you.
[10:03] Maomao
    She knows how to motivate her workers.
[10:17] Yinghua
    Don't worry about it!
[10:19] Guiyuan
    Rest for now.
[10:20] Ailan
    We've always been fully staffed.
[10:22] Maomao
    I'm bored!
[10:25] Maomao
    I only get called on as taster for
    two meals and the mid-day tea time.
[10:30] Maomao
    Now that I have my own room,
[10:33] Maomao
    if there was a venomous snake or
    something, I could experiment...
[10:36] Hongniang
    Maomao.
[10:39] Maomao
    Did you need me, Lady Gyokuyou?
[10:41] Gyokuyou
    He does, actually.
[10:45] Maomao
    Ugh.
[10:47] Jinshi
    Why won't this work on her?
[10:54] Maomao
    How may I serve you today?
[10:56] Jinshi
    I received these from a certain
    military officer. Can you taste them?
[11:01] Maomao
    Baozi buns...
[11:07] Maomao
    It has an aphrodisiac in it.
[11:10] Jinshi
    You can tell without eating it?
[11:11] Maomao
    It's not harmful. Please
    feel free to enjoy them.
[11:15] Jinshi
    Given who I received
     these from, I can't do that.
[11:19] Maomao
    Perhaps that person
    might visit you tonight.
[11:24] Jinshi
    Hmm. So you can tell by the smell alone?
[11:27] Maomao
    Did this guy try to make me eat one
    knowing they have an aphrodisiac in them?!
[11:38] Jinshi
    I had one more question for you.
[11:42] Maomao
    Yes, what is it?
[11:44] Jinshi
    A squad of soldiers on a mission to attack
    some barbarians was poisoned the other day.
[11:49] Maomao
    Poisoned?
[11:50] Jinshi
    Yes. Several fell ill after a meal.
[11:53] Jinshi
    They reported nausea, difficulty
     breathing, and other ailments.
[11:57] Maomao
    Nausea and difficulty breathing...
[12:01] Jinshi
    The meal was prepared in a nearby village.
[12:04] Jinshi
    They arrested the village leader
    for assisting the barbarians,
[12:07] Jinshi
    but an officer diffused the situation,
[12:09] Jinshi
    and has put the decision on hold.
[12:12] Maomao
    It would be natural to assume
    the villagers poisoned the soldiers, but...
[12:20] Maomao
    Master Jinshi, where were they eating?
[12:23] Jinshi
    They were at camp, so
    they likely ate outside.
[12:25] Maomao
    Did the villagers provide
    the plates and chopsticks?
[12:28] Jinshi
    No, the soldiers should
    have provided their own.
[12:33] Jinshi
    Did you notice something?
[12:36] Maomao
    This is just my opinion.
    Let me share something.
[12:40] Maomao
    This flower is a rhododendron.
[12:44] Gyokuyou
    Does it taste good?
[12:45] Maomao
    No, eating it causes nausea
    and difficulty breathing.
[12:49] Jinshi
    Hey!
[12:51] Maomao
    As you see, even the rear palace
    has plants with poison in them.
[12:55] Maomao
    This one has poison in the leaves, but some
    have poison in the branches or roots.
[12:59] Maomao
    Some wood can even emit poison when burned.
[13:04] Gyokuyou
    When burned...?
[13:09] Jinshi
    I see.
[13:11] Maomao
    It's fortunate the bright
     officer was there.
[13:14] Maomao
    We could have lost a whole village.
[13:17] Jinshi
    Yes.
[13:19] Maomao
    If that's all, I'll take my leave.
[13:21] Jinshi
    No, wait.
[13:23] Maomao
    Is there more?
[13:27] Jinshi
    Can you make an aphrodisiac?
[13:31] Maomao
    Make? You mean...
[13:34] Maomao
    Making drugs?!
[13:42] Maomao
    Given time, the proper ingredients,
    and the right tools,
[13:45] Maomao
    I could make something like that.
[13:49] Mid-Rank Concubine
    Master Jinshi, where are you headed?
[13:54] Jinshi
    I'm returning to my office. May I help you?
[13:58] Mid-Rank Concubine
    I was wondering if you'd have
     tea with me in my room...
[14:01] Jinshi
    Unfortunately, I have much work
    to attend to. Please excuse me.
[14:10] Gaoshun
    The servants must not be aware
[14:13] Gaoshun
    that Master Jinshi serves as a test
    of their loyalty to the emperor.
[14:18] Jinshi
    Just because the emperor does not visit her,
[14:20] Jinshi
    she shouldn't try and lure
    other men to her room.
[14:22] Jinshi
    What an indiscretion.
[14:24] Gaoshun
    Indeed.
[14:25] Jinshi
    A concubine cannot simply be
    beautiful or well-educated.
[14:30] Jinshi
    They must be loyal to
     the emperor, and be chaste.
[14:34] Gaoshun
    But to place you in the rear palace
    and use your beauty as a test...
[14:41] Gaoshun
    Our emperor can be quite severe at times.
[14:43] Jinshi
    We all use whatever is available to us. But...
[14:46] Jinshi
    Not only does she feel no lust
     for me, but that look...
[14:50] Maomao
    Glare...
[14:53] Jinshi
    I've never been so harshly
    looked down on in my life.
[14:57] Gaoshun
    Well then, I will take my leave.
[15:05] (Flashback) Maomao
    Perhaps that person
    might visit you tonight.
[15:07] Maomao
    Tonight... Tonight...
[15:13] Maomao
    I'm leaving now.
[15:15] Hongniang
    Good luck.
[15:17] Maomao
    Yes!
[15:24] Maomao
    Pardon me.
[15:26] Maomao
    The quack doctor, and...
[15:29] Gaoshun
    Miss Maomao. Let me reintroduce myself.
[15:32] Gaoshun
    I am Gaoshun.
[15:34] Gaoshun
    I'm Master Jinshi's assistant.
[15:37] Gaoshun
    Pleased to make your acquaintance.
[15:39] Maomao
    Hello.
[15:41] Maomao
    It can't be easy assisting that guy.
[15:44] Guen
    What is this servant girl
    doing in my territory?
[15:50] Gaoshun
    This way, please.
[15:54] Gaoshun
    I have been told you may use
    anything in this room.
[16:09] Jinshi
    Is that some sort of cursed dance?
[16:15] Maomao
    What a luxury, being able
    to use paper so freely.
[16:19] Maomao
    And also, I need...
[16:22] Gaoshun
    Over there?
[16:25] Maomao
    He's really quick to notice things.
    Compared to his master...
[16:30] Maomao
    If you're not going to do
    anything, just go away.
[16:33] Gaoshun
    Here you are.
[16:35] Maomao
    Thank you.
[16:38] Maomao
    That's not enough...
[16:41] Jinshi
    What is this?
[16:42] Maomao
    It's cacao.
[16:43] Jinshi
    If you need more, we'll simply find more.
[16:46] Maomao
    But it's from the West,
    and the far southern region, too.
[16:50] Jinshi
    I'm sure there's more in
     the trading goods storage.
[17:01] Maomao
    Milk, butter, sugar, honey,
    and powdered cacao.
[17:07] Maomao
    That should be enough.
[17:09] Yinghua
    All expensive ingredients.
[17:11] Ailan
    I wonder what she's making?
[17:13] Guiyuan
    A snack, maybe?
[17:15] Hongniang
    What are you all doing?
[17:17] Hongniang
    Get back to work!
[17:19] Three Ladies-in-waiting
    We're sorry!
[17:22] Hongniang
    Goodness.
[17:24] Maomao
    Now to actually make the aphrodisiac!
[17:31] Maomao
    I had a taste of cacao just once in the past.
[17:33] (Flashback) Meimei
    This is called "chocolate." Say "ah," Maomao.
[17:39] (Flashback) Meimei
    Maomao?!
[17:43] Maomao
    Perhaps a malicious customer wanted to get
    a popular courtesan's attention.
[17:47] Maomao
    Unfortunately for him, he got
    banned by the shrewd old lady.
[17:52] Maomao
    Looks good.
[17:53] Maomao
    There.
[17:57] Maomao
    Now I just cool it and wait for it to harden.
[18:00] Maomao
    I have a bit left over. Oh, I know.
[18:05] Maomao
    This probably doesn't need to be cooled.
[18:10] Maomao
    I guess I should clean up now.
[18:17] Maomao
    Wait, medicinal herbs?!
[18:19] Maomao
    There too?! And over there!
[18:24] Maomao
    Oops, I got a little carried away.
[18:27] Maomao
    Sorry for the delay!
[18:41] Jinshi
    At least we know it works.
[18:44] Hongniang
    So, what's going on?!
[18:46] Maomao
    Well, it is what it is...
[18:49] Maomao
    It's fine, they didn't go all the way—Ow!
[18:54] Gyokuyou
    So, this is the aphrodisiac?
[18:56] Maomao
    No, this is.
[19:00] Jinshi
    Then what are the other ones?
[19:02] Maomao
    A midnight snack for myself.
[19:05] Maomao
    If you're used to alcohol
    and other stimulants,
[19:07] Maomao
    it won't have that much of an effect.
[19:10] Jinshi
    Oh, so it won't be a problem if I ate it?
[19:14] Gaoshun & Hongniang
    Please don't do that!
[19:17] Jinshi
    Haha, just joking.
[19:19] Maomao
    What a reprehensible joke to make
    in front of the emperor's concubine.
[19:23] Maomao
    But if he approached someone with
    an impassioned blush on that face...
[19:30] Maomao
    It'd immediately captivate
    any person, male or female.
[19:33] Maomao
    He does have a great face, after all.
[19:36] Maomao
    It's quite strong, so please
     limit it to one piece at a time.
[19:40] Maomao
    Too many could excessively increase
    blood flow and cause nosebleeds.
[19:44] Gyokuyou
    Maybe you can make some for the emperor,
    to avoid things getting too dull.
[19:48] Maomao
    It should be around three times
    more potent than the usual tonic.
[19:53] Gyokuyou
    Three times? Does she mean duration...?
[19:56] Maomao
    Let's pretend I didn't hear that.
[19:59] Maomao
    Also, please only use it when you are
    alone with the person in mind.
[19:59] Gyokuyou
    Three times... Three times...
[20:04] Jinshi
    I see.
[20:06] Gyokuyou
    Well, I'll take my leave now.
[20:12] Hongniang
    So she can make drugs?
[20:16] Gyokuyou
    How reliable.
[20:22] Maomao
    It's finally over.
[20:29] Jinshi
    Good work.
[20:39] Jinshi
    Thank you.
[20:46] Maomao
    I see.
[20:48] Maomao
    I hope there aren't any victims.
SIGN    Next Time
[22:45] Narrator
    Next time: "The Unsettling
    Matter of the Spirit."
SIGN    Episode 3: The Unsettling Matter of the Spirit

E3 - The Unsettling Matter of the Spirit

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
[01:33] Lady-in-Waiting A
    That can't be!
SIGN    Episode 3: The Unsettling Matter of the Spirit
[01:35] Lady-in-Waiting A
    A reward?!
[01:41] Fuyou
    I understand.
[01:45] Lady-in-Waiting B
    Lady Fuyou!
[01:46] Lady-in-Waiting A
    Please, wait!
[02:24] Yinghua
    Wow, that's cold!
[02:25] Guiyuan
    We've been at the capital for a while now,
[02:27] Guiyuan
    but the morning cold
    is still hard to get used to.
[02:30] Yinghua
    I miss the sand and sunlight back home.
[02:33] Ailan
    The mornings and nights
    were cold back west as well, though.
[02:36] Guiyuan
    Ah, the Western Capital...
[02:38] Guiyuan
    It feels like a long time ago.
[02:40] Guiyuan
    And yet, Lady Gyokuyou's
    palace entry feels like yesterday.
[02:44] Ailan
    By the way, my father gave me some good news.
[02:48] Ailan
    Apparently, trade between the western
     and central capitals is on the rise.
[02:52] Guiyuan
    The emperor really does love Lady Gyokuyou.
[02:55] Yinghua
    It's the family home of
    the emperor's favorite concubine.
[02:58] Yinghua
    Surely the central officers
     can't ignore that.
[03:01] Ailan
    Cleaning the kitchen? We'll help.
[03:05] Yinghua
    No, we have to split up or
    we'll never finish the work.
[03:08] Yinghua
    It's not like we can rely
    on other servants.
[03:10] Ailan
    Yes, I remember how bad it was
    back when she was pregnant,
[03:13] Ailan
    like that time there was
    a poison needle in her dress.
[03:16] Yinghua
    Part of it is likely because she's
    the princess of a foreign land.
[03:20] Guiyuan
    It's fine. We have one extra
     lady-in-waiting now, right?
[03:26] Yinghua
    Maomao, what are you making?
[03:29] Maomao
    It's a cold remedy.
[03:30] Yinghua
    Wow, you can make those too?
[03:33] Yinghua
    The new lady-in-waiting is so talented.
[03:40] Yinghua
    Hey, are you sure you don't need anything?
[03:43] Yinghua
    Are you eating well?
[03:44] Maomao
    Thanks to you, yes...
[03:46] Yinghua
    Please don't keep your troubles to yourself!
[03:48] Maomao
    Sure...
[03:51] Yinghua
    By the way, did you hear the new
    rumor everyone's talking about?
[03:56] Maomao
    No.
[03:58] Yinghua
    They say there's a spirit
    haunting the rear palace.
[04:01] Maomao
    A spirit?
[04:02] Xialoan
    I heard that one! The ghostly lady
    in white, right?
[04:06] Maomao
    So, it's famous?
[04:07] Xialoan
    All of the servants, eunuchs,
    and concubines are talking about it!
[04:12] Xiaolan
    I think it started a few weeks ago.
[04:14] Xiaolan
    They say a ghostly lady in white
    dances in the air under the moonlight!
[04:20] Xiaolan
    And she appears every night
    at the eastern castle walls!
[04:26] Maomao
    Huh...
[04:28] Maomao
    The castle walls completely
    surround the rear palace.
[04:32] Maomao
    The only way to enter is through the four
    gates on the north, south, east and west.
[04:39] Maomao
    The gates are always guarded,
    and the walls are surrounded by a moat.
[04:44] Maomao
    Sneaking in or out would be impossible.
[04:47] Maomao
    They say that sunken in the moats are...
[04:55] Maomao
    The corpses of concubines
    who tried to escape.
[04:59] Maomao
    In other words, just your typical ghost story.
[05:03] Xiaolan
    What should I do if I see the spirit for real?
[05:05] Maomao
    It's just a rumor.
[05:11] Maomao
    Excuse me. Could you
    take a look at this medicine?
[05:14] Guen
    Hey, little lady. One moment.
[05:18] Maomao
    To think that he was so wary
    of me just a short while ago.
[05:22] Maomao
    When he found out I can make medicine,
    he started allowing me to do it here.
[05:28] Maomao
    He also gives me the ingredients I need.
[05:31] Maomao
    He even makes me tea.
[05:33] Maomao
    Should he really be so laid back?
[05:37] Guen
    Sorry to make you wait.
[05:41] Maomao
    Wow...
[05:42] Guen
    You like salty better than sweet, right?
[05:45] Jinshi
    May I have some as well?
[05:48] Guen
    Right away!
[05:53] Jinshi
    Good work.
[05:55] Maomao
    It's the least I could do.
[05:58] Maomao
    Does this guy have nothing better to do?
[06:01] Maomao
    Shouldn't he be at the Domestic
    Service Department as a eunuch?
[06:03] Maomao
    Instead, he wanders around the entire
    rear palace like he's on surveillance duty...
[06:09] Maomao
    In that case, he must outrank
    the Matron of the Serving Women.
[06:14] Maomao
    He could be the emperor's guardian,
    but he's too young for that.
[06:20] Maomao
    Ah. He must be the emperor's
    "personal favorite."
[06:26] Jinshi
    Are you thinking something
     inappropriate right now?
[06:29] Maomao
    Huh? You're imagining things.
[06:32] Jinshi
    Doctor, could you fetch me this?
[06:41] Maomao
    So, what do you really want?
[06:45] Jinshi
    Have you heard about the spirit haunting?
[06:48] Maomao
    A few rumors, yes.
[06:49] Jinshi
    How about sleepwalking?
[06:54] Maomao
    Sleepwalking...
[06:56] Jinshi
    Seems like I got your attention.
[07:02] Jinshi
    How can it be cured?
[07:04] Maomao
    I don't know. There's no medicine
    that cures somnambulism.
[07:08] Jinshi
    Is there a cure other than medicine?
[07:11] Maomao
    My specialty is medicine.
[07:15] Jinshi
    That's too bad.
[07:20] Jinshi
    That's truly, truly too bad.
[07:23] Maomao
    Yuck! He's so persistent!
[07:30] Maomao
    I'll do my best.
[07:44] Maomao
    This guy doesn't come off like a eunuch.
[07:49] Gaoshun
    Lady Maomao.
[07:51] Maomao
    Please don't call me "Lady."
    You outrank me by quite a bit.
[07:56] Gaoshun
    In that case, how's Xiaomao?
[07:59] Maomao
    A "Xiao" nickname? That was a sharp turn.
[08:02] Gaoshun
    Could you stop glaring down at
    Master Jinshi like he's an insect?
[08:08] Maomao
    Yikes, he knows.
[08:10] Gaoshun
    When he returned earlier,
[08:12] Gaoshun
    he told me, ecstatically, how you stared
    at him like he was a venomous caterpillar.
[08:19] Maomao
    I'll be more careful.
[08:24] Gaoshun
    If someone unprepared saw him
    like that, they might pass out.
[08:30] Maomao
    To each their own, I guess...
[08:40] Gaoshun
    Over there.
[08:51] Maomao
    A moonlit cotton rose...
[08:53] Gaoshun
    That's a good guess.
[08:57] Gaoshun
    That is Concubine Fuyou.
[09:00] Gaoshun
    She's a mid-ranking concubine,
[09:02] Gaoshun
    scheduled to be bestowed
    to a military officer as a reward.
[09:14] Guen
    It's been two years, I think.
[09:16] Guen
    She's a timid princess.
[09:19] Guen
    She's supposed to be a skilled dancer,
    but stumbled at her first showing.
[09:23] Guen
    The emperor hasn't laid a finger on her,
    and she shut herself in ever since.
[09:30] Guen
    I guess some things can't be avoided, but...
[09:34] Ladies-in-Waiting
    Lady Fuyou!
[09:34] Guen
    A bestowal? I feel sorry for her.
[09:38] Maomao
    She started sleepwalking over the shock
    of being treated as a reward?
[09:41] Maomao
    They do say illness is a result
    of an unbalanced mind...
[09:46] Maomao
    No, I need more information.
[09:49] Maomao
    Maybe I'll take another look at her.
[09:52] Maomao
    Where is Concubine Fuyou's room?
[09:55] Guen
    Her building is on the north side.
[09:57] Maomao
    Thank you. And thank you for the snacks.
[10:01] Guen
    Leaving already?
[10:05] Guen
    I hope she feels better.
[10:08] Guen
    I heard she's a princess
    from a small vassal state.
[10:10] Guen
    I'm sure she doesn't want to go back.
[10:14] Maomao
    Go back?
[10:15] Guen
    Oh, yes. She's...
[10:18] Lady-in-Waiting
    I feel sorry for Concubine Fuyou.
[10:21] Low-rank Concubine
    Yes, being given away to a military officer?
[10:24] Low-rank Concubine
    I shudder at the mere thought.
[10:36] Maomao
    She seems very different from how
    she looked dancing on that wall.
[10:41] Gaoshun
    Yes. I was surprised too,
    the first time I saw her.
[10:45] Gaoshun
    She's very unassuming most of the time.
[10:49] Maomao
    She really is like a cotton rose.
[10:52] Gaoshun
    A cotton rose?
[10:54] Maomao
    Yes.
[10:55] Maomao
    The fuyou flower,
    also known as the cotton rose,
[10:58] Maomao
    blooms as a large white flower in the morning.
[11:00] Maomao
    However, by evening, it turns a deep pink.
[11:06] Gaoshun
    So, the flower changes its appearance
    over the course of a single day?
[11:11] Maomao
    Yes.
[11:18] Xiaolan
    The spirit story?
[11:20] Maomao
    Yeah, I wanted to hear more about it.
    Do you know anything else?
[11:26] Xiaolan
    Well, I heard she first
    appeared on the north side.
[11:31] Maomao
    Huh? The north side?
[11:33] Serving girl
    Xiaolan! Laundry!
[11:35] Maomao
    She moved from the north to the east?
[11:36] Xiaolan
    Coming!
[11:37] Xiaolan
    Gotta go.
[11:37] Maomao
    Also...
[11:39] (Flashback) Guen
    Oh, yes. She's...
[11:42] Maomao
    I knew it. Concubine Fuyou is...
[11:50] Maomao
    My dad would tell me not to speak up
    based on just speculation, but...
[11:57] Maomao
    Not much is known about
    somnambulance, or sleepwalking.
[12:01] Maomao
    It is said that it's caused by stress.
[12:03] Maomao
    The patient moves about
    in their sleep, as if they're awake.
[12:08] Maomao
    A while ago, at the brothels,
    I saw a courtesan with the same illness.
[12:15] Maomao
    She was a cheerful person,
    skilled at poetry.
[12:18] Maomao
    She even received a purchase offer.
[12:22] Maomao
    However, that offer fell through.
[12:25] Maomao
    She started roaming the brothel at night,
    as if possessed by a demonic spirit.
[12:39] (Flashback) Courtesan A
    Why hello. What's wrong, everyone?
[12:43] Maomao
    She had no recollection of the night before.
[12:47] Jinshi
    And then what happened?
[12:49] Maomao
    Nothing. When the purchase offer was
     rescinded, the sleepwalking stopped.
[12:55] Gyokuyou
    So... That courtesan
    didn't want to get sold off?
[13:01] Maomao
    It's possible.
[13:03] Maomao
    The offer was made by a wealthy merchant,
[13:06] Maomao
    but not only did he have a wife and
    children, he had grandchildren as well.
[13:10] Maomao
    Also, she only had one year left on her term.
[13:18] Gyokuyou
    Perhaps Concubine Fuyou was the same.
[13:21] Jinshi
    Hmm. Is that really it?
[13:29] Maomao
    That's it.
[13:31] Jinshi
    Really?
[13:35] Gaoshun
    Please, stay calm.
[13:37] Maomao
    I'll get back to work.
[13:47] Maomao
    From that day on, Concubine Fuyou
    was forbidden from leaving her room.
[13:52] Maomao
    Until the day of her bestowal,
    eunuchs were placed to watch her.
[14:00] Maomao
    I hope it works out.
[14:07] Gyokuyou
    Isn't Maomao behaving strangely lately?
[14:12] Hongniang
    Is she?
[14:21] Gyokuyou
    I can tell.
[14:23] Gyokuyou
    There must be something.
[14:32] Gyokuyou
    Concubine Fuyou is leaving today, right?
[14:37] Maomao
    That is what I've heard.
[14:56] Gyokuyou
    Hey.
[14:57] Gyokuyou
    You can tell me the truth, you know.
[15:04] Gyokuyou
    I won't get upset, since I'm the one who asked.
[15:11] Maomao
    This is all just speculation,
    so could you keep this between us?
[15:16] Gyokuyou
    My lips are sealed.
[15:21] Maomao
    Do you remember the story of
    the courtesan I told you before?
[15:25] Gyokuyou
    The sleepwalker?
[15:27] Maomao
    Yes.
[15:28] Maomao
    There was actually another courtesan
[15:31] Maomao
    whose purchase offer was
    called off for the same reason.
[15:34] Maomao
    She later received another purchase offer,
[15:39] Maomao
    but since she was ill,
    the price was cut in half.
[15:46] Maomao
    However, it was all fraud.
[15:49] Gyokuyou
    Fraud?
[15:51] Maomao
    The two men who made
    the purchase offers knew each other.
[15:56] Maomao
    The woman pretended to be sick
     to call off the first offer.
[16:01] Maomao
    Then, the real purchaser
    made a bid at half the first price.
[16:07] Maomao
    If they wanted to be together,
     the man lacked the silver,
[16:11] Maomao
    and the woman still had time left on her term.
[16:15] Gyokuyou
    So, you're saying Concubine Fuyou
    is the same as that courtesan?
[16:19] Maomao
    Concubine Fuyou and the military officer
[16:22] Maomao
    are childhood friends
    who grew up in the same homeland.
[16:25] Gyokuyou
    Huh?
[16:26] Maomao
    I heard the man showed his valor in
    a battle against barbarians the other day.
[17:03] Maomao
    When asked what he wished as a reward,
[17:05] Maomao
    he strongly insisted on
     receiving Concubine Fuyou.
[17:12] Maomao
    He must have fantasized about it
    even before he left home.
[17:17] Maomao
    As a military officer, he could never
    propose marriage to a princess.
[17:22] Gyokuyou
    But then, she was pulled
     into the rear palace...
[17:27] Maomao
    And the princess also had feelings
    for her childhood friend.
[17:31] Maomao
    So, that could be why she failed at her dance,
[17:34] Maomao
    to avoid attracting
    the attention of the emperor.
[17:38] Maomao
    And as intended, the emperor never
    touched her. Her body is still pure.
[17:46] Maomao
    That said, it's entirely possible
[17:48] Maomao
    that the emperor would show
    interest in Concubine Fuyou,
[17:50] Maomao
    now that she's scheduled to be given away.
[17:53] Gyokuyou
    And so, she feigned somnambulism...
[17:57] Gyokuyou
    I can't say anything about
    the emperor. It's entirely possible.
[18:02] Maomao
    The barbarian battle took
     place in the eastern region.
[18:05] Maomao
    And Concubine Fuyou's
    nightly dance took place on...
[18:09] Gyokuyou
    The eastern gate?
[18:12] Maomao
    She was probably wishing for his safe return.
[18:15] Maomao
    Again, all speculation.
[18:50] Gyokuyou
    Hey, Maomao.
[18:52] Maomao
    Yes?
[18:54] Gyokuyou
    Would it make me a terrible woman
    if I said I envy Concubine Fuyou?
[19:08] Maomao
    That night, Concubine Fuyou was beautiful.
[19:16] Maomao
    She didn't seem at all like the nondescript
    princess I saw during the day.
[19:26] Maomao
    No, I wouldn't say that.
[19:55] Gyokuyou
    Let's go.
[19:57] Maomao
    Yes.
[20:19] Maomao
    If love makes a woman beautiful,
[20:25] Maomao
    what kind of medicine would it make?
[20:55] Emperor
    I have a request for the rumored apothecary.
SIGN    Next Time
[22:46] Narrator
    Next time: "The Threat."
SIGN    Episode 4: The Threat

E4 - The Threat

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
[01:30] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    How dare you try to feed
    Lady Lihua such lowly food!
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
[01:34] Lady-in-Waiting 2
    Only the most luxurious foods
    suit our Lady Lihua.
[01:39] Lady-in-Waiting 2
    I'd hesitate to even show this to her!
SIGN    Episode 4: The Threat
[01:42] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    Who would ever think Lady Lihua
    would enjoy something like this?
[01:45] Maomao
    Yikes. What a pain.
[01:45] Lady-in-Waiting 2
    We know best what Lady Lihua likes to eat.
[01:49] Maomao
    I'd never have come to the Crystal
    Pavilion if I'd had a choice, but...
[01:50] Lady-in-Waiting 2
    How dare you try to sneak this
     past us, servant. Shame on you.
[01:55] Narrator
    The night the emperor
    visited the Jade Pavilion...
[02:23] Maomao
    There is no poison.
[02:26] Maomao
    Excuse me.
[02:31] Emperor
    Wait.
[02:33] Maomao
    Uh-oh, the emperor directly addressed me
    for the first time.
[02:36] Emperor
    I have a request for the famous apothecary.
[02:40] Maomao
    Famous? I have a bad feeling about this.
[02:43] Maomao
    Yes.
[02:44] Emperor
    Concubine Lihua is not well.
    Could you look after her?
[02:49] Maomao
    By "look after her," he means "cure her."
[02:54] Maomao
    The word of the emperor
    is the word of the heavens.
[02:57] Maomao
    If I declined, that would be
    grounds for my beheading.
[03:00] Maomao
    Yes, Your Majesty.
[03:03] Maomao
    Why would he say that in
    front of another concubine?
[03:08] Maomao
    His Majesty really is "an emperor" by nature.
[03:13] Maomao
    That said, it's pretty incredible that they
    treat me like this. I'm here by imperial order.
[03:18] Maomao
    Since they serve Lady Lihua, I suppose
    they hate me as a servant of Lady Gyokuyou.
[03:24] Maomao
    Hmm?
[03:25] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    Get out if you're done cleaning!
[03:28] Maomao
    Boing boing.
[03:31] Maomao
    Oh, well. Guess I have to cook it again.
[03:36] Xiaolan
    Maomao, are you at the Crystal Pavilion now?
[03:39] Maomao
    Yeah, I'm looking after Lady Lihua.
[03:41] Xiaolan
    I see. Lady Lihua hasn't recovered yet...
[03:46] Maomao
    The whitening powder's poison
    must still be in her system.
[03:49] Xiaolan
    The poisonous powder, huh?
    I heard it was banned.
[03:54] Xiaolan
    I heard the eunuchs took away all
    the remaining powder in the rear palace.
[03:59] Maomao
    I see. Good.
[04:02] Xiaolan
    But a request from the emperor?
    You're awesome, Maomao. I was surprised!
[04:09] Maomao
    He must really not trust the doctor
    to rely on a girl like me.
[04:15] Xiaolan
    Maomao, you're going
    to the kitchen later, right?
[04:17] Maomao
    Yeah.
[04:18] Xiaolan
    Good luck with the cooking!
[04:20] Maomao
    Thanks.
[04:26] Maomao
    Right!
[04:28] Maomao
    In looking after Lady Lihua, the first thing
    I set out to do was to improve her diet.
[04:30] Maomao
    Um, excuse me.
[04:32] Cook
    Yes?
[04:32] Maomao
    First I needed to expel
    the poison still in her body.
[04:36] Maomao
    To do this, a porridge with lots of fiber,
[04:39] Maomao
    plus a diuretic tea sounds good.
[04:41] Maomao
    Not this. Not this either. This one...
[04:45] Maomao
    And this one, too. But not this one...
[04:51] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    Enough is enough!
[04:53] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    This is no place for lowly girls like you.
[04:57] Maomao
    Boing boing.
[04:59] Maomao
    This is going to take a while.
[05:02] Maomao
    In that case, let's try...
[05:04] Maomao
    This one, that one, the other one, and this.
[05:11] Lady-in-Waiting 3
    How many times do I have to tell you?!
[05:12] Maomao
    Well, first, she needs to eat
     something easy to digest—
[05:15] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    No way! Sick people need nutritious food,
    not cheap stuff like that. Obviously.
[05:22] Maomao
    So that's her usual meal.
[05:24] Maomao
    Sure, it's nutritious,
[05:27] Maomao
    but it's too heavy for a sick
    person's weakened stomach.
[05:30] Maomao
    That's not hard to understand.
[05:33] Maomao
    Why won't anyone stop them?
[05:36] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    Lady Lihua, your meal is ready.
[05:40] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    We brought you all the things
    you like. Please try to eat.
[05:50] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    Lady Lihua?!
[05:51] Lady-in-Waiting 2
    Oh no, what do we do?!
[05:52] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    Quick, bring water!
[05:54] Lady-in-Waiting 3
    Are you all right, Lady Lihua?!
[05:55] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    Lady Lihua, please have some water.
[06:02] Lady-in-Waiting 4
    This is your fault, lowly servant!
[06:04] Lady-in-Waiting 5
    Your presence ruins the atmosphere!
[06:06] Lady-in-Waiting 6
    Get out! Now!
[06:09] Maomao
    Boing boing.
[06:12] Maomao
    I won't even be able
    to get near her at this rate.
[06:16] Maomao
    Now, what shall I do...
[06:24] Maomao
    If I could at least do an examination...
[06:26] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    No need. What if you make things worse?!
[06:32] Maomao
    At that rate, she's bound to wither and die.
[06:36] Maomao
    People die unless they eat.
[06:40] Maomao
    She probably lost the will to live
    after losing her child.
[06:50] Maomao
    How many days do I have left,
[06:52] Maomao
    before my head bids farewell to my body
    for defying the emperor's order?
[06:57] Jinshi
    It seems like you're in a bit of a bind.
[07:01] Maomao
    Does it appear that way to you?
[07:03] Jinshi
    It does appear that way to me.
[07:06] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    Master Jinshi?!
[07:09] Lady-in-Waiting 4
    What's with that girl?
[07:11] Lady-in-Waiting 5
    Why is she with Master Jinshi...?
[07:12] Maomao
    An annoying misunderstanding...
[07:18] Jinshi
    Let's go inside, for now.
[07:22] Lady-in-Waiting 2
    Oh...
[07:22] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    M-Master Jinshi?!
[07:23] Lady-in-Waiting 4 & 5
    Eek!
[07:24] Jinshi
    It's not befitting of beautiful
    and talented ladies like you
[07:27] Jinshi
    to ignore the emperor's arrangements.
[07:32] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    Oh! Oh no, we aren't ignoring...
[07:33] Lady-in-Waiting 4
    Whoa! Eek!
[07:34] Lady-in-Waiting 2
    Right. We were just, um...
[07:35] Lady-in-Waiting 5
    H-Hey!
[07:38] Maomao
    It's scary how women can change so quickly.
[07:48] Jinshi
    There. Now go.
[08:20] Maomao
    She does have the will to eat.
[08:23] Maomao
    But she's weaker than I thought.
[08:26] Maomao
    Maybe she can handle rice water instead.
[08:32] Maomao
    Excuse me.
[08:35] Maomao
    The same shade as before...
[08:57] Maomao
    Are you the one in charge of
    the concubine's makeup?
[09:00] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    Indeed I am.
[09:02] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    We want Lady Lihua to always be beautiful.
[09:05] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    That is our duty as ladies-in-waiting.
[09:08] Lady-in-Waiting 2
    It's all for Lady Lihua. Obviously.
[09:11] Maomao
    I see.
[09:14] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    What's wrong with you?!
[09:16] Maomao
    Huh? Just punishing an idiot, obviously.
[09:19] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    Ouch! You're hurting me! Stop! It hurts!
[09:31] Maomao
    The poison will infect your
    whole body after a while.
[09:34] Maomao
    You should be glad. You'll be pretty too,
[09:38] Maomao
    just like your beloved Lady Lihua.
[09:41] Maomao
    Pale, bloodless skin, sunken eye sockets,
    a body unable to even eat...
[09:48] Maomao
    Don't you understand why this stuff was banned?!
[10:01] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    I j-just thought it would
    make Lady Lihua happy—
[10:06] Maomao
    I told you, it's poison.
[10:08] Maomao
    There are no thoughts in your head.
    You just think you know everything.
[10:14] Maomao
    Who would be happy poisoned with
     the same thing that killed their son?!
[10:29] Maomao
    Go rinse your mouth and wash your face.
[10:33] Maomao
    Hey! This is bad for the patient.
[10:37] Maomao
    Clean this floor up immediately!
[10:39] Ladies-in-Waiting
    Y-Yes!
[10:44] Jinshi
    It truly is scary, how women
    can change so quickly.
[10:49] Maomao
    Oh...
[10:52] Maomao
    I've really done it now...
[10:55] Lady-in-Waiting 2
    Let's go.
[10:59] Maomao
    Lady Lihua's health was worse than I thought.
[11:03] Maomao
    I started by changing from
    porridge to rice water.
[11:06] Maomao
    I forced the food into her mouth and
    had her swallow slowly, repeatedly.
[11:12] Maomao
    No sense in worrying about
    manners at a time like this.
[11:17] Maomao
    I did some ventilation, which thinned out
    the incense, revealing the smell of the sick.
[11:22] Maomao
    Those incompetent fools can't even
    wipe down their mistress properly?
[11:25] Maomao
    How do they even call
    themselves ladies-in-waiting?
[11:28] Maomao
    There's so much they could have been
    doing before worrying about incense.
[11:34] Maomao
    Hey. Hot water and cloth, now.
[11:37] Ladies-in-Waiting 2 & 3
    Y-Yes.
[11:41] Maomao
    You all, get to work.
[11:42] Ladies-in-Waiting 4; 5; 6
    Y-Yes!
[11:50] Maomao
    I had her drink tea every chance I could find.
[11:52] Maomao
    Frequent urination helps flush
    the poison out of her body.
[11:56] Lady-in-Waiting 2
    Um, are you sure Lady Lihua isn't in pain...?
[12:00] Maomao
    It doesn't matter, she must drink.
[12:03] Maomao
    She began to eat more, so I increased
    the amount of rice grains in the water.
[12:08] Maomao
    When she began to be able to swallow
    them, I added soup and ground fruit.
[12:14] Maomao
    I heard the lady-in-waiting
    was put in confinement.
[12:19] Maomao
    Apparently, she'd hid
    the powder for Lady Lihua.
[12:25] Maomao
    The eunuch who was supposed to recover
    the powder was punished by flagellation.
[12:46] Jinshi
    You seem tired.
[12:49] Maomao
    Yes. Unlike a certain someone, I'm quite busy.
[12:53] Gaoshun
    We brought gifts.
[12:57] Maomao
    Thank you!
[13:00] Maomao
    Wow!
[13:02] Maomao
    He really knows what I want!
[13:04] Maomao
    It's considerate people like him
    who become good husbands.
[13:08] Maomao
    He is a eunuch, though.
[13:11] Maomao
    Compared to him...
[13:17] Jinshi
    Do you need help with anything?
[13:20] Maomao
    Well...
[13:23] Jinshi
    What is it? Tell me anything.
[13:27] Jinshi
    Over there, they need help. Someone please.
[13:31] Jinshi
    Everyone, please hurry.
[13:33] Eunuchs
    Yes!
[13:35] Gaoshun
    A steam bath?
[13:37] Jinshi
    Apparently, sweating is good for her.
[13:40] Gaoshun
    Is it useful?
[13:42] Jinshi
    I suppose it is.
[13:44] Maomao
    We have to use whatever we have.
[13:56] Lihua
    You... Why...
[14:01] Maomao
    Yes, what is it?
[14:04] Lihua
    Why wouldn't you...
[14:09] Lihua
    let me just die?
[14:14] Maomao
    You could stop eating, then.
[14:19] Maomao
    But you eat the porridge
    because you want to live.
[14:42] Lihua
    I see.
[14:58] Lihua
    You're right.
[15:48] Maomao
    You.
[15:50] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    I was released from confinement and am
    permitted to serve Lady Lihua once again.
[15:57] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    I will never make that mistake again. Ever.
[16:02] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    I will take your place now. Please rest.
[16:07] Maomao
    All right.
[16:16] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    Lady Lihua.
[16:21] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    Lady Lihua.
[16:27] Lihua
    Ah...
[16:33] Lihua
    Can you get me some water, if you could?
[16:41] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    Yes.
[16:46] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    Yes!
[16:53] Maomao
    After about two months, Lady Lihua
    recovered enough to be able to walk by herself.
[17:02] Maomao
    She has self-respect, but isn't arrogant.
[17:06] Maomao
    After that matter with the prince,
    I imagined her as a selfish princess,
[17:11] Maomao
    but as it turns out, she has
    a personality befitting a concubine.
[17:50] Maomao
    I will take my leave tomorrow morning.
[17:54] Lihua
    I see.
[17:56] Maomao
    I've already spoken to your
    ladies-in-waiting about your food
[17:59] Maomao
    and other things to be careful of.
[18:03] Lihua
    Hey. Am I incapable of birthing another child?
[18:10] Maomao
    I don't know. Perhaps you should try.
[18:14] Lihua
    But His Majesty's love for me is gone.
[18:18] Maomao
    I was sent here by a direct
     order from the emperor.
[18:22] Maomao
    Once I return to the Jade Pavilion,
    perhaps the emperor will visit you.
[18:29] Lihua
    I ignored those words of
    advice and let my child die.
[18:34] Lihua
    Will I be able to win
    against Concubine Gyokuyou?
[18:37] Maomao
    It's not a matter of winning and losing.
[18:42] Maomao
    There are hundreds,
    thousands of flowers in the world,
[18:45] Maomao
    but who can decide whether a peony
    or a bellflower is more beautiful?
[18:52] Lihua
    I have neither her jade eyes
    nor her bright hair.
[19:00] Maomao
    You have other... assets.
[19:04] Maomao
    Not just the sheer size, but the shape
    and tension are truly magnificent.
[19:09] Lihua
    Huh?
[19:11] Maomao
    Could you lend me your ear?
[19:14] Lihua
    Y-Yes.
[19:30] Maomao
    Excuse me.
[19:37] Maomao
    The knowledge I left with Lady Lihua
    was a secret technique taught to me
[19:37] Lady-in-Waiting
    Lady Lihua, what's wrong?
[19:41] Ladies-in-Waiting
    Lady Lihua?!
[19:42] Maomao
    by my big sisters at the brothel.
[19:44] (Flashback) Pairin
    You should learn this, just in case!
[19:47] (Flashback) Young Maomao
    Huh?
[19:49] Maomao
    Unfortunately, I don't have the sizable
    fruits to employ the technique.
[19:54] Maomao
    It's perfect for Lady Lihua, though.
[19:59] Maomao
    I hope it turns out to be useful.
[20:07] Maomao
    I'm back.
[20:10] Gyokuyou
    Welcome back.
[20:12] Yinghua
    Maomao, are you all right?!
[20:14] Guiyuan
    You've gotten so thin.
[20:16] Ailan
    It must have been very hard.
[20:18] Jinshi
    She completed the emperor's
    mission all by herself. Impressive.
[20:26] Narration
    There was a period after that where
    the emperor's visits to the Jade Pavilion
[20:29] Narration
    decreased in frequency quite significantly.
[20:34] Gyokuyou
    Finally, released from sleep deprivation.
[20:39] Narration
    Maomao couldn't keep a straight face,
    but that's another story.
[21:00] Eunuch
    It's a curse...
SIGN    Next Time
[22:46] Narration
    Next time: "Covert Operations."
SIGN    Episode 5: Covert Operations

E5 - Covert Operations

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
SIGN    Episode 5: Covert Operations
[02:18] Basen
    I yield.
[02:23] Jinshi
    You've improved, Basen.
[02:25] Basen
    No...
[02:27] Basen
    My brute force is still no match
    for your techniques, Master Jinshi.
[02:32] Jinshi
    But that force of yours is quite astounding.
    You truly carry the Ma clan's blood.
[02:40] Jinshi
    How's the apothecary doing, Gaoshun?
[02:44] Gaoshun
    What specifically do you mean?
[02:46] Jinshi
    Has she gained weight?
[02:48] Gaoshun
    I believe she has regained some, yes.
[02:51] Jinshi
    I see. Well...
[02:54] (Flashback) Maomao
    Don't you understand why this stuff was banned?!
[02:57] (Flashback) Maomao
    I told you, it's poison.
[02:59] Jinshi
    It was unexpected, seeing that side of her.
[03:03] Gaoshun
    Are you all right, sir?
[03:04] Jinshi
    Hmm? What?
[03:06] Gaoshun
    You seem very concerned.
[03:13] Gaoshun
    No, it's nothing.
[03:25] Maomao
    I knew I'd find it!
[03:28] Maomao
    Yes!
[03:31] Maomao
    Oh! Over here, too!
[03:33] Maomao
    And here, too!
[03:36] Maomao
    Where should I eat it? The kitchen?
[03:39] Maomao
    But I don't want people
    asking where I found it...
[03:42] Maomao
    Oh, but before that...
[03:45] Xiaolan
    Wow, looks so good!
[03:47] Xiaolan
    Thanks as always, Maomao!
[03:50] Xiaolan
    It's so kind of your higher-ups to share snacks
    with you every time there's a tea party.
[03:57] (Flashback) Yinghua
    You need to eat more!
[03:58] (Flashback) Guiyuan
    Gain more weight!
[04:00] (Flashback) Ailan
    Don't be shy!
[04:04] Xiaolan
    Oh, did you hear?
[04:06] Maomao
    Hmm?
[04:07] Xiaolan
    I heard a palace servant
[04:09] Xiaolan
    was able to seduce a military officer
    who was famous for hating women.
[04:13] Maomao
    Huh...
[04:14] Xiaolan
    Guess how she did it.
[04:16] Maomao
    Who knows?
[04:18] Xiaolan
    They say she used an aphrodisiac!
[04:20] Maomao
    Aphro...disiac?
[04:27] Maomao
    That one.
[04:28] Xiaolan
    What's wrong, Maomao?
[04:29] Maomao
    N-Nothing. It's not related. Probably.
[04:36] Maomao
    Good morning.
[04:38] Guen
    Oh, hey little lady! What's going on today?
[04:42] Maomao
    There's a secret I'd like to discuss with you.
[04:44] Guen
    What is it?
[04:46] Maomao
    This.
[04:49] Guen
    Wow! Those are fresh matsutake mushrooms!
[04:51] Maomao
    I'm glad to see you seem to like it.
[04:53] Guen
    We'll need charcoal!
    And some soy paste and salt!
[04:58] Maomao
    Somehow, I've ended up being
    buddy-buddy with the quack doctor.
[05:07] Guen
    Oh, how irresistible!
[05:09] Maomao
    I think it's ready.
[05:11] Maomao
    Pour on some soy paste, add some salt...
[05:16] Maomao
    Here.
[05:21] Guen
    Delicious!
[05:22] Maomao
    Now he's an accomplice.
[05:25] Maomao & Guen
    Delicious!
[05:28] Eunuch A
    D-Doctor!
[05:31] Eunuch A
    A c-curse...
[05:33] Eunuch A
    Can you make a medicine that cures curses?
[05:36] Maomao
    A curse?
[05:38] Guen
    What do you mean?
[05:39] Eunuch A
    It's this.
[05:43] Maomao
    That's quite a bad rash.
    Maybe an ointment, for starters?
[05:48] Guen
    Could you make some?
[05:50] Maomao
    Understood.
[05:52] Guen
    So, what's this curse you mentioned?
[05:55] Eunuch A
    It was two nights ago.
[05:59] Eunuch A
    Trash that comes out of the rear palace
[06:01] Eunuch A
    is burned in the pit on the west side.
[06:04] Eunuch A
    I was doing work as usual that day, when...
[06:09] (Flashback) Eunuch A
    What's that?
[06:13] (Flashback) Eunuch A
    A woman's dress? The bottoms of the
    sleeves are burnt.
[06:17] (Flashback) Eunuch A
    And wood writing tablets...?
[06:19] Eunuch A
    I was a little curious, but I just
    threw it in the fire anyway. Then...
[06:39] Eunuch A
    It's a curse! That must be
    what got to my hands!
[06:44] Maomao
    Was the fire this color?
[06:51] Maomao
    Or perhaps this color?
[06:55] Maomao
    This would do the same thing.
[06:58] Guen
    Little lady, what is that?
[07:01] Maomao
    It's similar to how fireworks work.
[07:03] Maomao
    Some things change the color
    of a flame when burned.
[07:07] Eunuch A
    Then, what about my hands?
[07:09] Maomao
    There was probably something
    on the wood tablets.
[07:13] Maomao
    I think it caused the rashes
    when you touched them.
[07:16] Maomao
    Try this medicine, and let us know how it goes.
[07:19] Eunuch A
    Oh, thank you.
[07:21] Guen
    The little lady's medicines
    work like a charm!
[07:24] Guen
    You'll be better in no time!
[07:27] Jinshi
    Well done as always, apothecary.
[07:30] Guen
    Master Jinshi!
[07:33] Guen
    I'll make you some tea.
[07:37] Maomao
    Greetings, Master Jinshi.
    What business do you have with me today?
[07:41] Jinshi
    Do you mean I shouldn't talk
    to you unless I have business?
[07:45] Maomao
    Of course not.
[07:49] Jinshi
    Follow me for a moment.
[07:52] Guen
    Thank you for waiting, Master Jinshi—
[07:55] Guen
    Oh.
[08:01] Jinshi
    How many colors are there?
[08:03] Maomao
    I can't say specifically.
[08:05] Jinshi
    Then, how does one apply these colors?
[08:09] Maomao
    With salts, you can dissolve them in water.
[08:12] Maomao
    Some will dissolve in
    other things, like oil.
[08:17] Maomao
    But this is outside my area of expertise.
[08:20] Jinshi
    I see.
[08:22] Maomao
    If that's all, please excuse me.
[08:25] Jinshi
    Wait.
[08:27] Maomao
    What is it?
[08:29] Jinshi
    I like them teapot-steamed.
[08:34] Jinshi
    I'm counting on you, apothecary.
[08:36] Maomao
    So, he knew...
[08:39] Maomao
    I'll see if I can find more tomorrow.
[08:50] Jinshi
    Find everyone who's suffered burns
    on their arms recently.
[08:54] Gaoshun
    Understood.
[08:56] Maomao
    The colored wood tablets are
    probably some kind of code.
[09:00] Maomao
    People would only use something like
    that for... something secret?
[09:05] Maomao
    What would that be?
[09:09] Maomao
    None of my business. Nothing a food
    taster should be concerned about.
[09:17] Hongniang
    Thank you. Oh, please take that over there.
[09:22] Maomao
    I'm back.
[09:24] Hongniang
    Welcome back.
[09:26] Yinghua
    Maomao! Nice timing.
[09:27] Hongniang
    Over there, please.
[09:29] Yinghua
    Try this on, would you?
[09:31] Maomao
    Huh? I have a bad feeling about this...
[09:37] Maomao
    What is this?
[09:39] Yinghua
    Isn't it obvious? It's your dress
    for the garden party.
[09:42] Maomao
    Garden party?
[09:44] Yinghua
    Twice a year, the emperor and his
    high officials gather in the courtyard
[09:48] Yinghua
    to enjoy food and entertainment.
[09:51] Hongniang
    The emperor isn't married yet,
    so he has no empress consort, right?
[09:56] Hongniang
    In that case, it's customary to bring
     the upper first-rank concubines.
[10:01] Maomao
    Upper first-rank concubines...
SIGN    Current Emperor
SIGN    (Contender for Empress Consort)
SIGN    Upper First-Rank Concubine
[10:03] Hongniang
    The four high-ranking concubines who are
    the best contenders for the empress consort.
[10:12] Hongniang
    Concubine Gyokuyou, Precious Consort.
[10:14] Hongniang
    Concubine Lihua, Wise Consort.
[10:17] Hongniang
    Concubine Lishu, Virtuous Consort.
[10:19] Hongniang
    Concubine Ah-Duo, Pure Consort.
[10:22] Hongniang
    Last time, Lady Gyokuyou
    Lady Lihua couldn't attend,
[10:24] Hongniang
    because they had just given birth.
[10:26] Hongniang
    So this time, they decided
    to invite all four concubines.
[10:29] Maomao
    And what do we do there?
[10:32] Hongniang
    Well, nothing, actually.
[10:38] Gyokuyou
    We're invited as guests.
    We just have to follow the emperor.
[10:43] Hongniang
    Some officials come by
    to pay their respects.
[10:46] Hongniang
    So, don't forget to smile.
[10:48] Maomao
    Huh...
[10:51] Maomao
    Is everyone required to attend?
[10:53] Yinghua
    Of course!
[10:56] Yinghua
    This is Princess Lingli's
    first public appearance,
[10:58] Yinghua
    and a rare event with all four
    high-ranking concubines!
[11:01] Yinghua
    This is a war! We have to brace ourselves!
[11:05] Yinghua
    Let's do this!
[11:08] Maomao
    Lady Gyokuyou has so few
    ladies-in-waiting to start with.
[11:11] Maomao
    The newbie can't sit this out.
[11:14] Maomao
    Besides, if there's a meal,
    the taster is indispensable.
[11:18] Yinghua
    I guess you do need to
    stuff the chest area a little.
[11:22] Yinghua
    I want to bulk up your waist, too. Is that okay?
[11:25] Maomao
    I'm in your hands.
[11:28] Yinghua
    We'll be doing some nice makeup, too!
[11:31] Yinghua
    You should hide your freckles occasionally.
[11:36] Maomao
    Staying outside in the strong winds,
[11:39] Maomao
    watching the entertainment, eating the food,
[11:41] Maomao
    smiling at the officials who come by...
[11:45] Maomao
    I'll definitely need an iron
     bladder for this one.
[11:50] Maomao
    In that case...
[12:01] Maomao
    Good.
[12:03] Hongniang
    That smells nice.
[12:06] Hongniang
    What are you making?
[12:08] Maomao
    It's candy made of ginger and oranges.
[12:10] Hongniang
    Candy?
[12:11] Maomao
    Orange peels improve blood flow,
    and ginger warms the body.
[12:17] Hongniang
    Wait, is it for the garden party?!
[12:20] Maomao
    Yes. I also made this, just in case.
[12:24] Maomao
    I sewed pockets into my underrobe.
[12:27] Maomao
    By putting pocket warmers in there,
    it should help me withstand the cold.
[12:30] Hongniang
    Maomao!
[12:32] Maomao
    Huh?
[12:32] Hongniang
    Please, make enough for everyone!
[12:36] Maomao
    S-Sure...
[12:42] Maomao
    I guess getting too used to custom
    can stifle the simplest ideas.
[12:48] Maomao
    A little work can make things better.
[12:53] Maomao
    Come in.
[12:54] Jinshi
    I'd like to ask for one, myself.
[12:56] Gaoshun
    Me too, please...
[12:58] Maomao
    Okay.
[13:00] Seamstress
    Please teach me how to make that.
[13:02] Cook
    Please.
[13:04] Maomao
    The emperor's own seamstress and cook, too?
[13:36] Yinghua
    So cold!
[13:53] Maomao
    Finally finished.
[13:56] Maomao
    So, it's tomorrow.
[14:01] Maomao
    Let's make some of those too, just in case.
[14:06] Gaoshun
    Regarding the search for those
    with burns on their arms...
[14:09] Jinshi
    No luck yet?
[14:13] Gaoshun
    I'm sorry.
[14:15] Jinshi
    I hope the garden party goes smoothly...
[14:39] Ladies-in-Waiting Trio
    Wow...
[14:42] Yinghua
    You're beautiful, Lady Gyokuyou!
[14:44] Guiyuan
    Crimson looks so good on you!
[14:46] Ailan
    Such wonderful beauty...
[14:49] Maomao
    No wonder they say crimson suits her
    better than anyone in all the land.
[14:52] Hongniang
    Yes, you outshine all others.
[14:56] Gyokuyou
    Thank you. And for you all...
[15:01] Gyokuyou
    Here. I have to mark you, to make
     sure you don't attract any bad bugs.
[15:07] Gyokuyou
    Maomao.
[15:10] Gyokuyou
    Remember, Maomao. You are my lady-in-waiting.
[15:17] Maomao
    Uhm, thank you.
[15:21] Yinghua
    Got her!
[15:24] Maomao
    Um, wait.
[15:25] Guiyuan; Ailan
    Makeup time!
[15:28] Gyokuyou
    Time to become as cute as you can be!
[15:30] Yinghua
    We'll wipe off your face
    and apply some scents.
[15:32] Yinghua
    Then we'll deal with your freckles...
[15:34] Guiyuan
    There.
[15:38] Ailan
    Huh?
[15:39] Guiyuan
    Maomao?
[15:40] Yinghua
    No...
[15:41] Hongniang
    Why?
[15:43] Gyokuyou
    Maomao, you're...
[15:46] Maomao
    Ah...
[15:47] Maomao
    They caught me.
[15:50] Gyokuyou
    All right, let's go.
[16:12] Jinshi
    Concubine Lishu, I look forward to
    seeing you later in the garden party.
[16:16] Lishu
    Yes, Master Jinshi.
[16:26] Jinshi
    Last is the Precious Consort, Lady Gyokuyou.
[16:32] Gaoshun
    He seems to favor Concubine Gyokuyou.
[16:35] Gaoshun
    Could it be because of his favorite toy?
[16:39] Gaoshun
    He can be so troublesome.
[16:45] Gyokuyou
    Maomao, you've helped out quite a bit.
[16:48] Maomao
    Glad to be of service.
[16:50] Jinshi
    Greetings, Concubine Gyokuyou.
[16:52] Gyokuyou
    Oh, greetings.
[16:54] Jinshi
    My lady, you certainly
    look wonderful in crimson.
[16:58] Jinshi
    Your gorgeous, yet somewhat mysterious
    style must stem from your jade eyes.
[17:06] Gyokuyou
    Thank you.
[17:12] Jinshi
    Now, to check in on the princess...
[17:24] Maomao
    Greetings, Master Jinshi.
[17:30] Jinshi
    Oh, it's you, apothecary.
[17:32] Jinshi
    Are you wearing makeup?
[17:34] Maomao
    No, I'm not.
[17:36] Jinshi
    Your freckles are gone.
[17:38] Maomao
    Yes, I removed them.
[17:40] Jinshi
    You covered them with makeup, you mean?
[17:41] Maomao
    I removed my makeup. That's why they're gone.
[17:46] Jinshi
    That doesn't make any sense.
    You're contradicting yourself.
[17:50] Maomao
    Ugh, what a bother.
    I should have just nodded along.
[17:55] Maomao
    Every day, I put dried clay
    on my face to add freckles.
[18:00] Maomao
    I already had makeup on every
     time you saw me before this.
[18:04] Maomao
    Cosmetics aren't just for making
    a face more beautiful.
[18:08] Jinshi
    Why would you do such a thing?
[18:12] Maomao
    You really want to know?
[18:15] Maomao
    It's to prevent being
    dragged into a back alley.
[18:20] Maomao
    I lived near the brothels, but not
    every man left sexually satisfied.
[18:24] Maomao
    Some had empty wallets, violent
    tendencies, and venereal diseases.
[18:28] Maomao
    A short, skinny, ugly girl
     rarely becomes a target.
[18:34] Jinshi
    Were you ever dragged away?
[18:35] Maomao
    Attempts were made. Instead, I got kidnapped.
[18:43] Maomao
    My makeup was faded. They seemed
    to think I was borderline marketable.
[18:49] Jinshi
    I see.
[18:51] Jinshi
    I'm sorry we couldn't police them.
[18:55] Maomao
    I don't particularly care.
[18:57] Maomao
    A buyer can't tell if you were kidnapped, or just sold off
    legally so there'd be one less mouth to feed.
[19:05] Jinshi
    Doesn't that make you angry?
[19:07] Maomao
    Obviously, it does. But it's not your fault.
[19:16] Jinshi
    I'm sorry.
[19:20] Maomao
    He's being straightforward for once.
[19:30] Maomao
    That hurts.
[19:32] Jinshi
    Sorry. It's yours.
[19:37] Jinshi
    See you at the party.
[19:50] Maomao
    A man's hairpin? Why?
[19:54] Yinghua
    Wow! So nice!
[19:57] Guiyuan
    I'm jealous!
[19:58] Ailan
    I want one, too!
[20:00] Maomao
    I could give it away,
    but how would I split this?
[20:03] Gyokuyou
    Oh, you broke our promise already.
[20:10] Gyokuyou
    You're no longer mine alone.
[20:16] Maomao
    Um, what does that mean—
[20:21] Gyokuyou
    It's starting.
[20:49] Maomao
    The garden party begins.
SIGN    Next Time
[22:46] Narrator
    Next time: "The Garden Party."
SIGN    Episode 6: The Garden Party

E6 - The Garden Party

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
[01:34] Lady-in-Waiting 1
    There's just no sense of decency.
[01:37] Lady-in-Waiting 2
    So picky with her food.
[01:41] Kanan
    It's not like it's going to
    kill her or anything.
SIGN    Episode 6: The Garden Party
[01:48] Yinghua
    So cold!
[01:48] Ailan
    The pocket warmers certainly help, but...
[01:51] Maomao
    Not having anything to do
    in this cold is quite an ordeal.
[01:56] Guiyuan
    The wind is so cold!
[02:00] Maomao
    Couldn't we get a tent or something?
[02:42] Maomao
    This arrangement seems made to instill
     rivalry between the four concubines.
[02:51] Guiyuan
    Look, that's the Empress Dowager.
[02:54] Maomao
    She seems very youthful.
[02:57] Guiyuan
    She is young. She gave birth
    to the emperor when she was...
[03:03] Maomao
    Wow, she must have worked
    really hard to give birth...
[03:05] Guiyuan
    The Empress Dowager has two children,
    the emperor and his younger brother.
[03:12] Guiyuan
    The rumor is that the brother is
    too sick to leave his house.
[03:18] Guiyuan
    I think he was here until
    a few moments ago, though...
[03:21] Maomao
    I see.
[03:22] Yinghua
    Huh?!
[03:24] Yinghua
    Who are you calling basic?!
[03:25] Yinghua
    We ladies-in-waiting serve our mistresses!
[03:28] Yinghua
    What's the point in dressing up?!
[03:30] Lihua's Lady-in-Waiting 2
    Pfft. Did you hear that?
[03:33] Lihua's Lady-in-Waiting 3
    Having ugly servants hurts
    the mistress, obviously.
[03:38] Yinghua
    Grr!
[03:41] Maomao
    Those are Lady Lihua's ladies-in-waiting.
[03:44] Guiyuan
    Oh, Yinghua. And so, the proxy war begins.
[03:49] Guiyuan
    Let's go.
[03:51] Lihua's Lady-in-Waiting 2
    I guess you can't help it, seeing
    how you hired that ugly girl.
[03:55] Maomao
    "Ugly girl?" Does she mean me?
[03:58] Lihua's Lady-in-Waiting 3
    Having someone like that
    around is truly a shame.
[04:01] Yinghua
    What did you say?!
[04:04] Ailan
    Yinghua!
[04:05] Guiyuan
    Calm down!
[04:07] Maomao
    They haven't noticed? And after all the fun
    we shared at the Crystal Pavilion, too...
[04:13] (Flashback) Lihua's Lady-in-Waiting 3
    If you keep acting up,
    I'll tell my father about you!
[04:21] (Flashback) Maomao
    I'll have to do things to your body that
     you'd never tell your father about, then.
[04:26] (Flashback) Lihua's Lady-in-Waiting 3
    N-No!
[04:31] Maomao
    It was just a bit of courtesan-style humor.
[04:37] Yinghua
    Apologize to Maomao!
[04:46] Maomao
    Heh.
[04:50] Yinghua
    Wh-What, nothing to say all of a sudden?
[04:52] Lihua's Lady-in-Waiting 3
    W-Well, I guess that's enough for now!
[04:57] Lihua's Lady-in-Waiting 3
    You should thank me!
[05:00] Yinghua
    What's her problem?
[05:02] Yinghua
    Hey Maomao, are you all right?
[05:05] Yinghua
    Your real face is so pretty,
    but those bullies...
[05:08] Maomao
    It doesn't bother me. That aside, isn't it
    time to change your pocket warmers?
[05:14] Ailan
    Not only did she grow up in poverty,
[05:16] Ailan
    her distrust of men is strong enough
    to make her ruin her own face...
[05:20] Guiyuan
    She endured two months of awful
    bullying at the Crystal Pavilion...
[05:25] Yinghua
    Yet she won't complain at all,
    and instead looks after us...
[05:30] Ailan; Yinghua; Guiyuan
    It's only natural that the benevolent
    Master Jinshi looks after her!
[05:36] Maomao
    They're being delusional again.
[05:43] Ah-Duo's Lady-in-Waiting 1
    Have you no decency? A crimson dress?
[05:47] Maomao
    Another proxy war.
[05:50] Yinghua
    Ah, the Virtuous and
     Pure Consorts' servants.
[05:52] Yinghua
    They don't get along, either.
[05:55] Yinghua
    The Virtuous Consort is
     fourteen and arrived later,
[05:58] Yinghua
    the Pure Consort is thirty-five
    and has been here the longest.
[06:01] Yinghua
    No wonder they don't get along.
[06:03] Guiyuan
    Besides, they used to be
    daughter- and mother-in-law.
[06:06] Maomao
    Daughter- and mother-in-law?
[06:08] Guiyuan
    Um... It's a bit complicated.
SIGN    Ah-Duo
    Pure Consort
SIGN    Previous
    Emperor
SIGN    Empress Dowager
SIGN    Current Emperor
SIGN    Lishu
    Virtuous Consort
[06:11] Guiyuan
    Before, one was the previous
    emperor's concubine,
[06:14] Guiyuan
    and the other was our
     current emperor's concubine.
[06:18] Guiyuan
    But the previous emperor passed away, right?
[06:21] Yinghua
    The previous emperor's concubine
    left the palace once,
[06:24] Yinghua
    but returned as the current
    emperor's concubine.
[06:28] Maomao
    The previous emperor
    passed away five years ago.
[06:30] Maomao
    Back then, Concubine Ah-Duo
    was thirty years old,
SIGN    30 years old
[06:34] Maomao
    and Concubine Lishu was nine.
SIGN    9 years old
[06:38] Maomao
    I guess it's all politics, but becoming
    a concubine at nine? Wow.
[06:41] Yinghua
    Unbelievable, right? Being
    a mother-in-law at nine years old.
[06:45] Maomao
    Nine... Mother...
[06:49] Maomao
    M-Mother?!
SIGN    Ah-Duo
    Pure Consort
SIGN    Lishu
    Virtuous Consort
SIGN    Empress Dowager
SIGN    Current Emperor
SIGN    Previous
    Emperor
SIGN    Ah-Duo
    Pure Consort
SIGN    Lishu
    Virtuous Consort
[06:54] Maomao
    The one who was the previous emperor's
    concubine was Lady Lishu?!
[07:16] Maomao
    So that's the young mother-in-law?
[07:19] Hongniang
    As you probably saw,
    Lady Lishu is still very young.
[07:25] Maomao
    Yes, I see that.
[07:27] Maomao
    Normally, a white dress would
    suit the Virtuous Consort,
[07:30] Maomao
    but that dark pink color...
[07:32] Maomao
    It obviously clashes with
    Lady Gyokuyou, the Precious Consort.
[07:36] Maomao
    Maybe she can't read the room?
[07:42] Hongniang
    Thank you for the pocket warmers.
    We'll certainly need them again.
[07:45] Maomao
    Yes.
[07:49] Lihua's Ladies-in-Waiting
    It's freezing...
[07:56] Maomao
    Hold these if you're cold.
[08:03] Maomao
    Here.
[08:05] Maomao
    Here!
[08:14] Yinghua
    You're too kind.
[08:16] Yinghua
    Suggesting sharing the warmers with
     the Crystal Pavilion ladies-in-waiting...
[08:20] Ailan
    And getting Lady Gyokuyou's permission, too.
[08:23] Maomao
    Well...
[08:27] Maomao
    A hairpin?
[08:29] Yinghua
    It's how they try to recruit talented
    workers hidden in this flower garden.
[08:34] Maomao
    Huh.
[08:35] Yinghua
    It has another hidden meaning, though.
[08:38] Maomao
    I see.
[08:40] Yinghua
    I said, there's a hidden meaning!
[08:44] Maomao
    Meaning, huh?
[08:53] Lihaku
    Please have this, young lady.
[09:00] Maomao
    I guess he's handing them out to everyone
    to make sure no servant feels ashamed.
[09:08] Maomao
    Thank you.
[09:09] Lihaku
    I'm Lihaku! Good to meet you!
[09:15] Maomao
    Like a big dog...
[09:16] Lihaku
    Woof! Woof!
[09:18] Yinghua
    Did he give you that? Let me see!
[09:20] Maomao
    Just a participation award.
[09:23] Lihua
    I believe you should have more.
[09:30] Lihua
    It's been some time.
[09:31] Maomao
    Yes, my lady, it has been a long time.
[09:40] Lihua
    That's all for today.
[09:42] Lihua's Lady-in-Waiting 2
    Lady Lihua...?!
[09:44] Lihua
    We'll take our leave. Have a pleasant day.
[09:51] Guiyuan
    Lady Gyokuyou won't like this.
[09:54] Yinghua
    What an understatement.
[09:57] Ailan
    What will you do with all these hairpins?
[10:11] Maomao
    Oh.
[10:15] Maomao
    He looks pretty good there.
[10:19] Maomao
    I guess he's higher up than I thought.
[10:21] Maomao
    He doesn't seem out of place
    among the military officers.
[10:26] Maomao
    Oh look, that officer from earlier.
[10:29] Maomao
    He's at the very edge, but given
    his age, I guess that's still impressive?
[10:34] Maomao
    Our glittering eunuch
    isn't there, but who cares?
[10:44] Maomao
    More importantly, food tasting.
[10:50] Maomao
    No clouding on the contact point.
[10:55] Maomao
    No strange smells.
[10:58] Maomao
    But swallowing is part of the job as taster...
[11:05] Maomao
    Now to rinse out the mouth with water... Hmm?
[11:20] Maomao
    The life of the food taster is expendable.
[11:24] Maomao
    I guess I'm the only one
    that enjoys eating poison.
[11:28] Maomao
    You know what would be good? Puffer fish.
[11:30] Maomao
    Sneak in some innards in the soup...
[11:34] Maomao
    That stinging sensation
    on the tongue is so wonderful.
[11:43] Maomao
    Oops. Must concentrate.
[11:44] Maomao
    This vinegar fish-and-vegetable dish
    is the emperor's favorite.
[11:48] Maomao
    I saw it a few times at the rear palace.
[11:50] Maomao
    Usually it includes blueback,
    but it's jellyfish today.
[11:56] Maomao
    The cook responsible for the emperor's food
[11:58] Maomao
    would never mistake
    the emperor's favorite ingredient.
[12:01] Maomao
    Lady Gyokuyou has no prominent
    likes or dislikes, either.
[12:05] Maomao
    Seems like the server messed up.
[12:24] Maomao
    I guess she doesn't like fish.
[12:27] Maomao
    She can't refuse to eat it.
    Not in front of the emperor.
[12:38] Maomao
    I wish I hadn't seen that.
[12:42] Military Official 1
    Did you see that, Lihaku?
[12:44] Military Official 1
    One of the food tasters
     is really excitable.
[12:47] Lihaku
    Where's the fun in watching
    someone eat while terrified?
[12:52] Military Official 1
    Come on, just look.
[12:55] Lihaku
    Huh? That taster... it's that girl from earlier.
[13:23] Lihaku
    J-Just how delicious is that?
[13:35] Maomao
    This is poison.
[13:43] Crowd
    The Precious Consort's soup was poisoned?!
[13:45] Minister
    Poison?! Are you sure?
[13:45] Crowd
    Concubine Gyokuyou?!
[13:47] Minister
    The taster swallowed it!
[13:49] Crowd
    Minister!
[13:50] Crowd
    What are you doing?!
[13:52] Jinshi
    Formal attire is too tight.
[13:56] Lihaku
    Hey! The minister drank
     the soup and collapsed!
[14:03] Jinshi
    The apothecary...
[14:08] Maomao
    Phew.
[14:10] Jinshi
    Apothecary!
[14:12] Maomao
    Good day, Master Jinshi.
[14:15] Jinshi
    Your day seems better than mine.
[14:18] Maomao
    Oh no, I got too excited about
    the poison. It's like I smiled at him.
[14:25] Maomao
    What are you doing?
[14:27] Jinshi
    Taking you to the infirmary!
[14:29] Maomao
    I coughed up the poison. I feel quite well.
[14:34] Maomao
    I would have loved to swallow it, though.
[14:37] Maomao
    If I did, the poison would have coursed
    through my body by now, and...
[14:42] Maomao
    Master Jinshi, uh...
[14:45] Jinshi
    What is it?
[14:46] Maomao
    Give me the rest of the soup.
[14:50] Jinshi
    You're an idiot.
[14:52] Maomao
    I'm just eager to improve.
[14:56] Jinshi
    After you left, someone tried the soup to see
    if it was really poisoned, and collapsed.
[15:01] Maomao
    Who was that stupid?
[15:04] Jinshi
    A minister. Now it's become a huge incident.
[15:09] Maomao
    Use this, then.
[15:12] Maomao
    It's an emetic agent.
[15:13] Maomao
    I made it strong enough to
     turn your stomach inside out.
[15:17] Jinshi
    Isn't that also a poison, then?
[15:27] Maomao
    A new hairpin?
[15:29] Maomao
    So the eunuchs gets hairpins, too?
[15:32] Maomao
    His collar is a little disheveled, too.
    Plus his normal glitter is gone.
[15:39] Maomao
    Is that why he wasn't at the party?
[15:44] Maomao
    But right now, he's acting
    his age more than usual...
[15:48] Maomao
    Or rather, he looks quite a bit younger.
[15:54] Maomao
    I prefer him like this, somewhat.
[16:03] Maomao
    Really does the trick!
[16:04] Maomao
    The palace infirmary has some good drugs!
[16:08] Jinshi
    Are you all right?
[16:12] Maomao
    Yes, I'm all empty.
[16:17] Jinshi
    Well, let's talk about who
    poisoned Concubine Gyokuyou.
[16:23] Maomao
    I'd like for you to bring
    someone to talk about that.
[16:27] Jinshi
    Who?
[16:28] Maomao
    Lady Lishu, the Virtuous Consort.
[16:34] Lishu
    Master Jinshi, how may I be of service?
[16:37] Jinshi
    I'm sorry to bring you to this inelegant place.
[16:40] Jinshi
    This lady-in-waiting wanted to speak with you.
[16:45] Lishu
    Huh?!
[16:47] Lishu
    Hmph. A lady-in-waiting?
[16:53] Maomao
    Excuse me.
[16:58] Maomao
    I knew it.
[17:01] Maomao
    Is it fish that you can't eat?
[17:06] Jinshi
    What is this?
[17:08] Maomao
    Some people have things they cannot eat.
[17:11] Maomao
    In my case, I can't have buckwheat.
[17:15] Jinshi
    Yet you eat poison?
[17:17] Maomao
    Leave me alone. I tried to build a tolerance.
[17:22] Maomao
    However, it made my throat swell
    and it was hard for me to breathe.
[17:27] Maomao
    Even a little bit caused rashes,
    so it was hard to adjust the amounts,
[17:32] Maomao
    and I took a long time to heal.
[17:34] Maomao
    That's what I mean by "cannot eat."
[17:37] Maomao
    Lady Lishu, how is your stomach?
[17:41] Maomao
    I can get you a laxative if you....
[17:47] Lishu
    How did you know?
[17:49] Maomao
    It was clear that the rear palace
    prepared the food for the garden party.
[17:54] Maomao
    However, the vinegar dish used
    a different ingredient from the usual one.
[17:58] Maomao
    It seems like Lady Lishu's dish got swapped
    with Lady Gyokuyou's dish by mistake.
[18:04] Lishu
    I see.
[18:05] Maomao
    Is it mackerel that you can't eat?
[18:10] Lishu
    Yeah...
[18:15] Maomao
    This isn't about just liking
     or disliking certain foods.
[18:18] Maomao
    It was just hives this time, but sometimes,
    it can cause difficulty in breathing.
[18:25] Maomao
    Feeding her this knowingly...
[18:28] Maomao
    would be the same as poisoning her.
[18:39] Maomao
    You're her food taster, correct?
[18:42] Kanan
    Y-Yes!
[18:45] Maomao
    I've taken note of what to be
    careful of in an emergency.
[18:51] Maomao
    Of course, avoiding these
     foods entirely is best.
[18:57] Maomao
    Please take a look.
[19:02] Maomao
    It's not difficult.
[19:04] Maomao
    However, if something goes wrong,
    not even the palace doctor could fix it.
[19:11] Maomao
    It could become deadly.
[19:15] Maomao
    Please keep that in mind.
[19:22] Maomao
    That should have scared her enough.
[19:33] Jinshi
    What was that about?
[19:36] Maomao
    I am of lowly birth. Please don't touch me.
[19:41] Jinshi
    You're the only one that says that to me.
[19:43] Maomao
    Well, everyone's just being kind to you.
[19:48] Maomao
    Anyway, I must report to Lady Gyokuyou. So...
[19:53] Jinshi
    Wait. Why did you call the food taster in, too?
[19:59] Maomao
    What do you mean?
[20:00] Jinshi
    Don't play dumb. You asked me to bring her.
[20:03] Maomao
    To tell her what to be careful of.
[20:06] Jinshi
    So, you're saying the servers made the error?
[20:11] Maomao
    I don't know. I'm a mere lady-in-waiting.
[20:17] Jinshi
    At least answer me this.
[20:21] Jinshi
    The target was the Virtuous
    Consort, Lady Lishu, right?
[20:26] Maomao
    Assuming none of the other
     dishes were poisoned.
[20:29] Jinshi
    I see.
[20:48] Maomao
    What a day.
[20:50] Gaoshun
    Is this related to the matter of
    the wooden tablets from the other day?
[20:55] Gaoshun
    The lady-in-waiting who came earlier
    had no burns on her.
[21:01] Jinshi
    Who could it be...?
[21:06] ---
    Not just some superficial sweetness
[21:12] ---
    I want more warmth than I can even use, oh
[21:18] ---
    Having these selfish idealistic thoughts
[21:23] ---
    I swallowed them again today
    before putting them into words
[21:28] ---
    Still in my memories,
    the scent of fragrant olive
[21:33] ---
    The color of twilight in the city
[21:36] ---
    We were laughing...
[21:41] ---
    Filled with sadness,
    the tears welled up in my eyes
[21:53] ---
    I found a glow during those days
[22:01] ---
    I guess I took everything for granted
[22:06] ---
    The wind was so loud I covered my ears
[22:18] ---
    I gotta stop being like that
[22:26] ---
    Even if I stumble over the words of love
SIGN    Next Time
[22:46] Narrator
    Next time: "Homecoming."
SIGN    Episode 7: Homecoming

E7 - Homecoming

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
[01:35] (Flashback) Maomao
    Dad!
[01:40] (Flashback) Maomao
    Dad!
SIGN    Episode 7: Homecoming
[01:53] Maomao
    I wonder if Dad's doing okay.
[01:59] Maomao
    Right. Yesterday, after the garden party...
[02:02] (Flashback) Yinghua
    What are you talking about?!
[02:04] (Flashback) Ailan
    The minister who ate the poison
    is in terrible condition!
[02:07] (Flashback) Guiyuan
    You're sick. Get lots of sleep!
[02:10] Maomao
    Thanks to them, I got a good deal of sleep.
[02:13] Maomao
    But sleeping until noon is too much.
[02:21] Maomao
    I can't go without makeup now.
[02:28] Gyokuyou
    Oh.
[02:29] Gyokuyou
    You could have taken a day off.
[02:32] Maomao
    I can't allow myself to do that.
    Please put me to work.
[02:36] Gyokuyou
    Oh? Your freckles.
[02:38] Maomao
    I'm uncomfortable without them.
    Can I keep them on?
[02:42] Gyokuyou
    I understand.
[02:44] Gyokuyou
    Everyone kept demanding to know
    who that lady-in-waiting was.
[02:49] Maomao
    My apologies.
[02:51] Gyokuyou
    It's fine.
[02:52] Gyokuyou
    Anyway, Gaoshun came by this morning
    and hasn't left. What do you want to do?
[02:56] Gyokuyou
    He seemed bored, so I asked him
    to pull up some weeds.
[03:01] Maomao
    Weeds...
[03:02] Maomao
    Back at the garden party, he was
    in a pretty high-ranking seat.
[03:06] Maomao
    I guess he really is caring.
[03:09] Maomao
    He must win the hearts of
    the ladies-in-waiting in his own way.
[03:15] Maomao
    May I use the parlor?
[03:19] Gyokuyou
    Sure. Hongniang.
[03:22] Hongniang
    Yes.
[03:22] Maomao
    Is it just me, or is Hongniang
    being sparkly-eyed, too?
[03:27] Gaoshun
    Master Jinshi wanted me to bring you this.
[03:31] Maomao
    This is the soup that Lady Gyokuyou
    was supposed to drink, right?
[03:35] Gaoshun
    Yes.
[03:36] Maomao
    How kind of him.
[03:39] Gaoshun
    Please don't eat it.
[03:40] Maomao
    I won't.
[03:42] Maomao
    Silver corrodes quickly.
    This is oxidized and no longer tasty.
[03:48] Gaoshun
    Tasty...
[03:50] Maomao
    Did you pick this up with your hands?
[03:52] Gaoshun
    No, I didn't touch the bowl.
[03:55] Gaoshun
    I only picked up the contents
    in a spoon to see if it was poison.
[03:58] Gaoshun
    Shoop shoop shoop.
[03:58] Gaoshun
    After that, I immediately
    wrapped it in cloth.
[04:02] Maomao
    One moment, please.
[04:04] Maomao
    Clip clip clip.
[04:06] Maomao
    Clunk clunk clunk.
[04:08] Gaoshun
    Cotton, powder, and a brush.
[04:10] Maomao
    Yes.
[04:11] Gaoshun
    What will you do with these?
[04:13] Maomao
    In the apothecary I used to work at,
[04:15] Maomao
    we used to put dyes on containers
    that weren't supposed to be touched.
[04:20] Maomao
    This is a similar technique.
[04:22] Maomao
    It's simple. I put some powder
    on this cotton ball.
[04:27] Maomao
    I dust the bowl with it...
[04:29] Maomao
    Finally, I brush off the excess.
[04:36] Maomao
    And there.
[04:36] Gaoshun
    There's some white marks.
[04:39] Maomao
    That's where a human hand made contact.
[04:42] Maomao
    When you touch this with
    your fingers, it leaves a mark.
[04:46] Maomao
    It's especially visible on silver,
    which is easily corroded.
[04:50] Maomao
    That's why you thoroughly
    wipe silver items before use.
[04:54] Gaoshun
    In other words, the finger
     marks remaining here
[04:57] Gaoshun
    were from people who touched
    the bowl after it was wiped clean?
[05:01] Maomao
    Indeed.
[05:03] Maomao
    The size and placement of the finger marks
    allows us to guess how they held it.
[05:09] Maomao
    The bowl was held...
[05:12] Gaoshun
    What is it?
[05:17] Maomao
    Nothing.
[05:19] Maomao
    The bowl was held by four people, I think.
[05:23] Gaoshun
    Four people.
[05:25] Maomao
    First, three people who touched
    the side of the bowl.
[05:28] Maomao
    The one who poured the soup,
[05:31] Maomao
    the one who carried it,
[05:33] Maomao
    and Lady Lishu's taster.
[05:36] Maomao
    But there was one more.
[05:38] Maomao
    An "outsider" that touched
    the rim of the bowl.
[05:41] Maomao
    I believe this unknown
    person poisoned the food.
[05:47] Gaoshun
    If that's true, why is the taster's finger
    mark on the high-rank concubine's bowl?
[05:53] Maomao
    That's simple. Lady Lishu's taster swapped it
    on purpose as a form of harassment,
[06:00] Maomao
    not knowing it was poisoned.
[06:01] Gaoshun
    Swapped it?
[06:04] Maomao
    It's bullying.
[06:05] Gaoshun
    A lady-in-waiting is bullying
    a high-ranking concubine?
[06:08] Maomao
    Sounds like you can't believe it.
[06:10] Gaoshun
    Can you explain?
[06:13] Maomao
    Let me first say that this is all
    just conjecture on my part.
[06:18] Gaoshun
    That's fine.
[06:19] Maomao
    Do you remember Lady Lishu's
    dress during the garden party?
[06:23] Gaoshun
    Yes. I believe it was a flashy pink color.
[06:27] Maomao
    Normally, you'd think that if a concubine
[06:29] Maomao
    picked a color that would clash
    with Lady Gyokuyou's dress,
[06:32] Maomao
    her ladies-in-waiting would
    recommend another one.
[06:35] Maomao
    Or, at least, they'd wear something
     that matches it themselves.
[06:40] Maomao
    However, all of her servants
    were wearing white.
[06:46] Maomao
    That makes Lady Lishu appear like
    a buffoon who can't read the room.
[06:52] Maomao
    Ladies-in-waiting should
     allow their mistress to shine.
[06:55] Maomao
    Come to think of it, that day...
[06:57] (Flashback) Ah-Duo's Lady-in-Waiting 1
    Have you no decency? A crimson dress?
[07:04] Maomao
    Lady Ah-Duo's ladies-in-waiting
[07:07] Maomao
    were scolding Lady Lishu's
    servants for not doing their jobs.
[07:10] Maomao
    The rear palace is full of enemies,
[07:12] Maomao
    so the only people a concubine can
    truly trust are her ladies-in-waiting.
[07:17] Maomao
    I suspect the ladies-in-waiting recommended
     that dress to their young Lady Lishu,
[07:23] Maomao
    and she wore it without realizing
    they'd done it to humiliate her.
[07:26] Maomao
    She didn't suspect a thing.
[07:28] Gaoshun
    Not only that, but she also tried to swap
    the food to further harass Concubine Lishu?
[07:35] Maomao
    Yes, though she was unaware it was poisoned.
[07:38] Maomao
    It ended up saving her.
[07:42] Maomao
    But it's still quite distasteful.
[07:46] Gaoshun
    Why would they do such a thing?
[07:48] Maomao
    Lady Lishu became the previous
    emperor's concubine at a very young age.
[07:52] Maomao
    Then she left the rear palace
    soon after. Her situation is unique.
[07:55] Maomao
    A wife must sacrifice everything
    to devote to her husband.
[07:58] Maomao
    We are all taught this from a very young age.
[08:01] Maomao
    I guess, from that perspective,
    to wed her deceased husband's son
[08:05] Maomao
    is an indecency beyond words.
[08:09] Maomao
    I think the mark near the bowl's edge
[08:12] Maomao
    was left by the person who added the poison.
[08:15] Maomao
    They must have held the edge
    while stirring in the poison.
[08:18] Gaoshun
    I see.
[08:20] Maomao
    Your fingers must not touch the area
    that noble lips are supposed to go.
[08:25] Maomao
    That is the teaching of Hongniang.
[08:27] Maomao
    That's all I came up with.
[08:31] Gaoshun
    May I ask one more thing?
[08:34] Maomao
    What is it?
[08:37] Gaoshun
    Why did you try to protect that
    taster yesterday?
[08:43] Gaoshun
    I'm just curious. This isn't
    an investigation or anything.
[08:50] Maomao
    The life of a serving girl is worthless
    compared to that of a concubine.
[08:58] Maomao
    Especially if that life
    belongs to a food taster...
[09:08] Gaoshun
    I'll try to explain this to Master Jinshi.
[09:11] Maomao
    Thank you.
[09:16] Maomao
    Well, I should be thankful, since she
    did go out of her way to make the swap.
[09:23] Maomao
    I was able to taste that poison thanks to her.
[09:26] Maomao
    I really should have swallowed that soup.
[09:35] Gaoshun
    That is all.
[09:36] Jinshi
    I see. You always impress me
    with how you word things.
[09:41] Gaoshun
    Is that so?
[09:43] Jinshi
    This is clearly an inside job, right?
[09:46] Gaoshun
    The situation indicates as much, yes.
[09:50] Jinshi
    You make it sound so simple.
[09:53] Jinshi
    I haven't had time to sleep
    at all because of this.
[09:55] Jinshi
    I haven't even been able to change clothes.
[09:57] Jinshi
    I want to stop thinking.
[09:59] Gaoshun
    Your natural self is showing.
[10:01] Jinshi
    Who cares? There's nobody here.
[10:04] Gaoshun
    I am here.
[10:05] Jinshi
    Can you cut me some slack?
[10:07] Gaoshun
    No.
[10:09] Jinshi
    Nothing I say will move you, huh?
[10:11] Gaoshun
    We've had a long relationship.
[10:13] Jinshi
    It's not easy having someone
    look after you since you were born.
[10:18] Gaoshun
    Master Jinshi, you forgot
    to remove your hairpin.
[10:21] Jinshi
    Oh, oops. Totally forgot.
[10:24] Gaoshun
    It was hidden in your hair.
[10:26] Gaoshun
    I don't think anyone noticed your true status.
[10:29] Jinshi
    Take care of it for me.
[10:32] Gaoshun
    You're treating it roughly again.
[10:36] Gaoshun
    It's something only special individuals
    can wear, so please take care of it.
[10:41] Jinshi
    I know.
[10:43] Gaoshun
    You don't.
[10:46] Gaoshun
    Excuse me.
[10:53] Jinshi
    Let's do this...
[10:58] Xiaolan
    Oh right, did you get any hairpins?
[11:01] Maomao
    A few.
[11:04] Xiaolan
    I see!
[11:06] Xiaolan
    So, now...
[11:08] Xiaolan
    You can get out of the rear palace!
[11:12] Maomao
    Huh? What did you say?
[11:14] Xiaolan
    You can get out of the rear palace?
[11:17] Maomao
    More details please!
[11:20] Xiaolan
    Yes...
[11:24] Xiaolan
    You can't meet men from the outside
    while at the rear palace,
[11:27] Xiaolan
    but if you get special permission,
    a man can escort a female worker outside.
[11:32] Maomao
    I see, so that's what the hairpins
    they hand out at the garden party means.
[11:36] Xiaolan
    Exactly! You can also use the hairpin to ask
    someone to take you out of the rear palace.
[11:43] Maomao
    I see. Thanks, Xiaolan. I'll give it a try.
[11:49] Xiaolan
    No problem.
[11:51] Xiaolan
    Maomao, thanks for the hawthorn!
[11:54] Xiaolan
    It was yummy!
[12:00] Maomao
    I received a total of four hairpins.
[12:03] Maomao
    Two are from men.
[12:06] Maomao
    Or rather, since one of the two
     lost his important parts,
[12:08] Maomao
    maybe I shouldn't call him a "man"?
[12:11] Jinshi
    Apothecary!
[12:14] Maomao
    Right!
[12:20] Eunuch 1
    Master Lihaku, a lady from
    the rear palace sent you this.
[12:23] Lihaku
    Oh, understood.
[12:26] Lihaku
    Yikes, did she take that
    consolation hairpin seriously?
[12:31] Lihaku
    But if it's a pretty lady,
    it would be a waste...
SIGN    Jade Pavilion
     Maomao
[12:36] Lihaku
    I only gave out one hairpin
    at the Jade Pavilion...
[12:39] Lihaku
    Which means...
[12:43] Lihaku
    That one?
[12:45] Lihaku
    Wonder how I should turn her down...
[12:51] Maomao
    Excuse me.
[12:55] Maomao
    Thank you for waiting.
[12:57] Lihaku
    Huh? Who are you?
[12:59] Maomao
    I get that a lot.
[13:01] Lihaku
    Do people ever tell you that
    makeup changes you drastically?
[13:04] Maomao
    I get that a lot, too.
[13:08] Lihaku
    But anyway, you called me up...
[13:11] Maomao
    I'd like to go back to my family.
[13:14] Lihaku
    Your family?
[13:15] Lihaku
    Do you know what this means?
[13:18] Maomao
    I was told that I could go home temporarily,
    as long as you can vouch for me.
[13:23] Lihaku
    You're quite bold.
[13:25] Lihaku
    You, a mere lady-in-waiting, are demanding
    that I, a military officer, vouch for you?
[13:29] Maomao
    Yes.
[13:32] Lihaku
    And you summoned me just for that?
[13:36] Maomao
    Yes.
[13:37] Lihaku
    I don't know if you're dauntless or clueless.
[13:42] Lihaku
    So, little girl, you're trying to
    exploit me for your homecoming?
[13:48] Maomao
    No, I believe I can offer you
    something valuable in exchange.
[13:53] Lihaku
    Huh?
SIGN    Verdigris House - Introduction Letter - Pairin Verdigris House - Introduction Letter - Joka Verdigris House - Introduction Letter - Meimei
[13:57] Maomao
    Could I interest you in a flower-viewing
    session at the Verdigris House?
[14:02] Lihaku
    Th-The Verdigris House?!
    You've gotta be kidding!
[14:05] Lihaku
    A night at that super high-class brothel
    could cost a year of my salary!
[14:08] Maomao
    If you're worried, you can show them
    one of these introduction letters.
[14:12] Maomao
    Pairin. Joka. Meimei.
[14:17] Lihaku
    Th-That's even less believable!
[14:19] Lihaku
    Those are the Three Princesses that not even
    the highest-rank officials can afford!
[14:22] Maomao
    If you can't believe it, that's just too bad.
[14:25] Lihaku
    Huh?!
[14:26] Maomao
    My deepest apologies for
     having wasted your time.
[14:29] Lihaku
    W-Wait...
[14:30] Maomao
    It's very unfortunate, but I'll just
     have to ask someone else.
[14:33] Maomao
    Please forget I mentioned this.
[14:37] Lihaku
    She has other contacts?!
[14:40] Lihaku
    Hairpins with rose quartz and silver?!
[14:43] Lihaku
    They're obviously from
    people who far outrank me.
[14:46] Lihaku
    Just who is this girl?!
[14:48] Lihaku
    In that case, what she said might be...
[14:50] Lihaku
    No, it's too suspicious!
[14:53] Lihaku
    But if it is true, I'll never get another
    chance to meet the Three Princesses again...
[14:59] Lihaku
    What should I do?!
[15:03] Maomao
    So, what will it be?
[15:13] Lihaku
    I lose.
[15:15] Yinghua
    Congratulations, Maomao!
[15:17] Yinghua
    Who would have thought
    you'd go before any of us...
[15:20] Ailan
    I'm so glad!
[15:22] Guiyuan
    You must've met someone nice!
[15:24] Maomao
    Uh, thank you?
[15:26] Yinghua
    Why are you so casual about this?!
[15:28] Maomao
    Don't worry, I'll bring back souvenirs.
[15:31] Yinghua
    How'd you meet this guy?
[15:33] Maomao
    Um, coincidence?
[15:35] Hongniang
    I'm pretty sure she has no idea
    what the hairpin means.
[15:39] Gyokuyou
    Yes, I'm sure of it. I feel so
    sorry for a certain someone.
[15:46] Gyokuyou
    This is so amusing.
[15:50] Gyokuyou
    I wonder what kind of face he'll make...
[15:52] Hongniang
    I suspect some turmoil in the future...
[15:56] Narrator
    Jinshi was finally able to finish up
    his work and find time to visit
[16:01] Narrator
    the day after Maomao had already left.
[16:04] Gyokuyou
    Maomao took off with someone.
[16:15] Gyokuyou
    On a three-day homecoming.
[16:18] Maomao
    The pleasure district where
    I grew up isn't far away.
[16:23] Maomao
    It's walking distance from the rear palace,
    just beyond the walls and moats.
[16:30] Maomao
    A carriage? How extravagant.
[16:32] Maomao
    Well, the Three Princesses
    of the Verdigris House are
[16:35] Maomao
    idolized by the population. Worshiped, even.
[16:40] Maomao
    Just being able to meet
    them would be an honor.
[16:43] Lihaku
    Oh, there it is...
[16:47] Lihaku
    The pleasure district!
[16:51] Maomao
    There are girls who enter the brothels,
    wanting to become like them.
[16:56] Maomao
    But it's not easy.
[16:59] Maomao
    Even if they become a serving girl,
    a courtesan-in-training,
[17:01] Maomao
    there's no guarantee that they'll make it.
[17:06] Lihaku
    So, this is the Verdigris House...
[17:08] Maomao
    Yes.
SIGN    Verdigris House
[17:09] Lihaku
    It's very dignified.
[17:12] Maomao
    It's a long-standing, reputable brothel,
[17:14] Maomao
    providing everything from middle-
    to super-high-rank courtesans.
[17:19] Maomao
    Hey, long time no see, Grams.
[17:22] Maomao
    How has everyone—
[17:28] Old Lady
    What do you mean,
    "long time no see?!" Stupid girl.
[17:31] Lihaku
    Are you okay?! What's with this old woman?!
[17:35] Maomao
    This is the old madam,
    proprietor of the Verdigris House.
[17:39] Maomao
    I remember this used to help me
    spit out all the poison I tried.
[17:43] Old Lady
    So, is this the good customer?
[17:46] Old Lady
    He's got a handsome face and a good build.
[17:50] Old Lady
    I heard you're a rising star, too.
[17:52] Maomao
    Hey, why say that out loud to his face?
[17:56] Old Lady
    Hey, get Pairin.
[17:59] Old Lady
    She should be making tea today.
[18:00] Serving Girl
    Yes, ma'am!
[18:01] Lihaku
    Pairin...
[18:02] Maomao
    Master Lihaku, how strong are your arm muscles?
[18:06] Lihaku
    I do train pretty regularly.
[18:09] Maomao
    This could be...
[18:11] Serving Girl
    This way, please.
[18:14] Lihaku
    I'm getting nervous...
[18:16] Maomao
    Make a good impression, okay?
[18:18] Lihaku
    Yeah.
[18:21] Old Lady
    So, why'd you vanish for ten
    whole months without a word?
[18:27] Maomao
    I had no say in the matter.
    Didn't you read the letter I sent?
[18:31] Old Lady
    Of course I read it! That's why
    I'm taking care of that guy for you,
[18:33] Old Lady
    even though we're introduction only!
[18:35] Maomao
    I know, I know. I got half of my pay at
    the rear palace early, as a special deal.
[18:43] Old Lady
    This isn't enough for Pairin.
[18:47] Maomao
    Can we say it's enough for just some tea?
[18:49] Old Lady
    Idiot! Pairin won't leave
     those muscles alone.
[18:54] Maomao
    I knew it. But that's not
    something I can control...
[18:57] Old Lady
    That won't fly! I'll add it to the tab.
[19:00] Maomao
    I could never afford that...
[19:02] Old Lady
    In that case, bring more good customers.
[19:05] Old Lady
    Similar to that guy. Young, so that we can
    drain him over a long period of time.
[19:09] Maomao
    Would a eunuch be an acceptable customer?
[19:12] Maomao
    No way. The courtesans
    would pull out all the stops
[19:15] Maomao
    and put the brothel out of business.
[19:17] Maomao
    But I'd feel bad for Gaoshun
    or the quack doctor...
[19:22] Old Lady
    Maomao, your old man should be
    at home. Go visit him already.
[19:30] Maomao
    Cross just one street, and the face of
    the town changes dramatically.
[19:35] Maomao
    Rough shacks, beggars,
    and syphilitic streetwalkers.
[19:41] Maomao
    Things haven't changed.
[19:57] Maomao
    I'm home, Dad.
[19:59] Luomen
    Welcome home. You were out for a while.
[20:05] Maomao
    I'm finally home.
[20:08] Maomao
    Yeah, on that day, I was out
    getting dyes for my freckles, when...
[20:25] Maomao
    I still have time left on my term, so I'll
    go back to the rear palace in two days.
[20:29] Luomen
    I see.
[20:30] Maomao
    I'm sleepy, but I also want a bath.
[20:33] Luomen
    You should borrow a bath at
    the Verdigris House tomorrow.
[20:38] Maomao
    Yeah, I'll do that.
[20:58] Luomen
    The rear palace? What a twist of fate.
[21:06] ED Lyrics
    Not just some superficial sweetness
[21:12] ED Lyrics
    I want more warmth than I can even use, oh
[21:18] ED Lyrics
    Having these selfish idealistic thoughts
[21:23] ED Lyrics
    I swallowed them again today
    before putting them into words
[21:28] ED Lyrics
    Still in my memories,
    the scent of fragrant olive
[21:33] ED Lyrics
    The color of twilight in the city
[21:36] ED Lyrics
    We were laughing...
[21:41] ED Lyrics
    Filled with sadness,
    the tears welled up in my eyes
[21:53] ED Lyrics
    I found a glow during those days
[22:01] ED Lyrics
    I guess I took everything for granted
[22:06] ED Lyrics
    The wind was so loud I covered my ears
[22:18] ED Lyrics
    I gotta stop being like that
[22:26] ED Lyrics
    Even if I stumble over the words of love
SIGN    Next Time
[22:46] Narrator
    Next time: "Wheat Stalks."
SIGN    Episode 8: Wheat Stalks

E8 - Wheat Stalks

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
SIGN    Episode 8: Wheat Stalks
[01:48] Maomao
    Oh, right, I'm home.
[01:56] Maomao
    So sticky...
[01:58] Maomao
    Dad...
[02:01] Maomao
    Must be out in the field.
[02:09] Maomao
    I wish he'd stop working the field at his age,
[02:15] Maomao
    but he just really enjoys making
    medicine out of the herbs he grows.
[02:25] Maomao
    Don't break it.
[02:28] Maomao
    I don't know you. Are you
    a servant at a different brothel?
[02:32] Maomao
    My dad's—
[02:32] Servant A
    Come with me!
[02:33] Maomao
    Hey!
[02:41] Servant A
    Big Sis! I brought the apothecary!
[02:44] Mob Courtesan
    Hurry!
[02:45] Maomao
    This smell...
[02:51] Courtesan B
    Apothecary! I made them
    throw up already, but...
[02:57] Maomao
    Right!
[03:00] Maomao
    The man isn't breathing!
[03:02] Maomao
    The woman's breathing is too weak.
[03:04] Maomao
    We'll check if there's any
     vomit left in their throats.
[03:07] Maomao
    You check her.
[03:07] Courtesan B
    Y-Yes!
[03:10] Maomao
    No pulse. Nothing clogging the throat.
[03:20] Maomao
    Just saliva.
[03:34] Courtesan B
    Bring water!
[03:35] Maomao
    No water! Bring charcoal. Charcoal!
[03:38] Servant A
    Y-Yes!
[03:49] Maomao
    Great way to start the morning.
[03:53] Maomao
    Wow, I need a bath...
[03:55] Courtesan B
    Thank you, apothecary. They're both stable now.
[03:59] Maomao
    Wait, leave that alone.
[04:01] Courtesan C
    Even what they threw up on?
[04:03] Maomao
    There could still be poison in it.
[04:05] Courtesan C
    Poison...
[04:08] Courtesan B
    I'll go make some tea.
[04:16] Maomao
    The two who collapsed here were
    a courtesan and her customer.
[04:20] Maomao
    The room was filled with
    the scent of alcohol and tobacco.
[04:25] Maomao
    Two bottles.
[04:27] Maomao
    Broken glass cups.
[04:30] Maomao
    This is... a wheat stalk?
[04:34] Maomao
    A pipe and some tobacco leaves.
[04:37] Maomao
    They really went out of
     their way to cause trouble.
[04:40] Servant A
    I've got the charcoal...
[04:42] Maomao
    Good. Also, get me a text plate
    and something to write with.
[04:45] Servant A
    Huh?
[04:48] Maomao
    My dad should be out in the fields,
    near the southern wall.
[04:52] Maomao
    Bring him over here later.
[04:54] Servant A
    Got it.
[05:06] Maomao
    You're late, Dad.
[05:08] Luomen
    This girl was worried about my leg.
[05:12] Maomao
    I crushed the charcoal.
[05:14] Luomen
    Yes, let's mix it with the herbs
    and give it to them immediately.
[05:18] Courtesan B
    Can you drink this?
[05:22] Courtesan A
    What about him...?
[05:23] Courtesan B
    He's safe. He had the medicine, too.
[05:27] Luomen
    Your treatment's not bad.
[05:29] Maomao
    "Not bad," huh?
[05:33] Maomao
    Dad's able to deduce two or three things
    from a single piece of information.
[05:40] Luomen
    What kind of poison do you think this was?
[05:42] Maomao
    Here goes!
[05:50] Maomao
    Dad sometimes tries to
    make me learn stuff this way.
[05:55] Maomao
    Tobacco leaves are deadly poisons.
[05:57] Maomao
    That would be what they'd use
    in a double suicide.
[06:00] Luomen
    You didn't have them drink water, right?
[06:03] Maomao
    Water would make things worse, right?
[06:05] Luomen
    Correct. Gastric juices can prevent
     the intake of poison in some cases,
[06:09] Luomen
    so diluting it might make things worse.
[06:12] Luomen
    However, what if this poison
    was already soaked in water?
[06:18] Maomao
    There are no leaves in the vomit.
[06:20] Maomao
    I missed that. Maybe I'm still half asleep.
[06:24] Maomao
    If the poison was soaked in water,
    sometimes diluting it with more water is good.
[06:28] Maomao
    Got it. Lesson learned.
[06:32] Generous Old Lady
    Sorry for the trouble.
[06:34] Maomao
    Serving us snacks reserved for customers?
    That's quite generous of her.
[06:41] Maomao
    I see, it prevents lipstick
    from getting on the cup.
[06:48] Generous Old Lady
    You really saved us. This is just
     a small token of our gratitude.
[06:53] Luomen
    Oh no, that's too much—
[06:54] Maomao
    Dad, can you afford rent this month?
[06:57] Luomen
    Ah, in that case...
[06:58] Maomao
    Jeez, you old man...
[07:05] Maomao
    Must have been a double suicide.
    Not exactly rare in the pleasure district.
[07:09] Maomao
    A man who can't afford to buy out a courtesan,
[07:11] Maomao
    and a courtesan with time left on her term.
[07:13] Maomao
    People like that often reach
    this same conclusion.
[07:16] Maomao
    Still, that man was very well-dressed.
[07:20] Maomao
    He had a handsome face, too.
[07:22] Maomao
    Didn't seem like someone who'd be
    short on money or women.
[07:25] Maomao
    Dad wouldn't approve of me
    judging through stereotypes, but...
[07:30] Maomao
    He didn't seem like someone
[07:32] Maomao
    who'd drink poison with a courtesan
    out of despair for their future.
[07:39] Maomao
    I'm going to go check on them.
[07:42] Maomao
    The man seemed to be in worse condition...
[07:52] Maomao
    What are you doing?!
[07:58] Servant A
    Don't stop me! This guy deserves to die!
[08:19] Courtesan B
    Wh-What are you doing?!
[08:25] Courtesan B
    Apothecary, may I speak with you?
[08:34] Courtesan B
    That man was always a problem customer.
[08:38] Courtesan B
    He'd sweet-talk a courtesan and
    insinuate that he would buy her out.
[08:41] Courtesan B
    When he got tired of her, he'd just dump her.
[08:44] Courtesan B
    He was widely hated. Some woman
    tried to stab him, even.
[08:49] Courtesan B
    He'd been poisoned in the past, too.
[08:51] Courtesan B
    But his rich merchant father pampers him.
[08:55] Courtesan B
    He settles everything with money.
[08:59] Courtesan B
    Recently, he asked his father to hire
    guards for him to travel to the brothels with.
[09:04] Courtesan B
    This girl's older sister got dumped by him, too.
[09:08] Courtesan B
    She was so happy she could live with him,
[09:12] Courtesan B
    but on the day of the buy-out,
    he suddenly canceled on her.
[09:19] Courtesan B
    That's why, I think, she couldn't forgive him.
[09:22] Courtesan B
    The courtesan who drank the poison
    today was close to her, as well.
[09:26] Maomao
    So, you want me to pretend
    I didn't see anything?
[09:28] Maomao
    If he's such a problem, why not just ban him?
[09:31] Courtesan B
    It's the courtesan who fell for him.
[09:35] Maomao
    In that case, I suppose
    word of a double suicide
[09:37] Maomao
    would make matters worse for the brothel.
[09:41] Maomao
    So, they served us the good snacks
[09:42] Maomao
    because we prevented a rich merchant's
    son from dying on the premises.
[09:47] Maomao
    And...
[09:50] Maomao
    That must have felt unfair to her.
[09:57] Maomao
    I understand.
[10:01] Maomao
    I just happened to be home today,
[10:04] Maomao
    but if the girl shops with us often, perhaps
    she knew when my dad is usually away.
[10:11] Maomao
    Normally you'd call for
    a doctor at a time like that,
[10:14] Maomao
    but she went out of her way
    to find a missing apothecary.
[10:18] Maomao
    That servant girl is scarier than she looks.
[10:24] Luomen
    It's too bad your homecoming
    turned out this way.
[10:28] Maomao
    Dad, show me that money from earlier.
[10:30] Luomen
    Hmm?
[10:31] Maomao
    Yep, all there.
[10:33] Maomao
    As expected, including hush money.
[10:36] Maomao
    Something bothers me, though.
[10:39] Maomao
    Judging from the stories,
    the man is pretty clever.
[10:43] Maomao
    Would someone like him join
    a double suicide over romance?
[10:48] Maomao
    Was it a forced suicide? No, a man who'd
     been poisoned before wouldn't easily—
[10:55] Luomen
    Maomao, you shouldn't
    speak based on conjecture.
[11:00] Maomao
    Dad, you already figured out
    what really happened, right?
[11:07] Maomao
    Let's try to recall what was at
    the scene and what I might have missed.
[11:13] Maomao
    Tobacco leaves are deadly poisons.
[11:14] Maomao
    This would be what they would
    use in a double suicide.
[11:16] Luomen
    However, what if this poison
    was already mixed in water?
[11:20] Courtesan B
    It's the courtesan who fell for him.
[11:22] Servant A
    This guy deserves to die!
[11:25] Courtesan B
    The courtesan who drank the poison
    today was close to her as well.
[11:28] Maomao
    I see, it prevents the lipstick
    from getting on the cup.
[11:38] Maomao
    This wasn't a double suicide.
[11:41] Maomao
    It was murder.
[11:49] Maomao
    Poisoned water, wheat stalks,
    two separate drinks with different colors...
[11:59] Luomen
    It's already over.
[12:03] Maomao
    I know.
[12:08] Maomao
    Murder, not a double suicide.
[12:10] Maomao
    And it's the courtesan
    who tried to kill the man,
[12:14] Maomao
    using drinks laced with tobacco poison.
[12:18] Maomao
    But the man was cautious enough
    to have guards around.
[12:22] Maomao
    How did she get him to drink the poison?
[12:26] Maomao
    Simple. She took a sip as well.
[12:29] Maomao
    If the courtesan was safe,
    the man would drink, too.
[12:33] Maomao
    But if she drank the poison,
    she'd be in danger herself.
[12:38] Maomao
    That's why she used a trick.
[12:40] Maomao
    Two drinks, one cup.
[12:44] Maomao
    Different drinks have varying
    thicknesses and weights.
[12:49] Maomao
    By pouring a lighter drink
    slowly over a heavy drink,
[12:53] Maomao
    you can create a pretty-looking, layered drink.
[12:55] Maomao
    She used that as a small parlor
    trick to impress her guest.
[12:59] Maomao
    Then, she used the wheat stalk to drink just
    the lower layer, without raising suspicion.
[13:19] Maomao
    Afterwards, she drank from
    the upper layer as well.
[13:22] Maomao
    Just a little bit, so it wouldn't kill her.
[13:25] Maomao
    She didn't want to end up dead herself.
[13:32] Maomao
    She did the act in the morning to
    increase the odds that he would die,
[13:37] Maomao
    and she would survive.
[13:39] Maomao
    And conveniently, someone came to witness it.
[13:44] Maomao
    She appeared fragile,
    but she's actually quite clever.
[14:14] Servant A
    What are you doing, Big Sis?!
    You should stay in bed!
[14:18] Maomao
    The servant girl did
    behave a bit strangely.
[14:21] Maomao
    In order to make sure the man didn't survive,
[14:23] Maomao
    she went to an apothecary, not a doctor.
[14:26] Maomao
    She even took her time
    bringing my dad over.
[14:29] Maomao
    Wasn't she worried that
    her "Big Sis" would die?
[14:33] Maomao
    Wasn't she worried that someone close
    to her would die again, like her real sister?
[14:39] Maomao
    It's almost as if she knew
    the courtesan would survive.
[14:43] Maomao
    Or am I over-thinking this?
[14:46] Maomao
    In addition, the other courtesan
    was sympathetic to the servant girl.
[14:50] Maomao
    Plus, the very generous madam...
[14:52] Maomao
    Once I start doubting, there's no stopping.
[14:57] Maomao
    Could they all have been...
[15:03] Maomao
    I shouldn't speak based on conjecture.
[15:08] Maomao
    I really missed this pleasure district,
[15:11] Maomao
    but in essence, it's no different
    from the rear palace.
[15:14] Maomao
    It's both a garden and a cage.
[15:18] Maomao
    The stale, trapped air poisons everyone.
[15:22] Maomao
    The courtesans also eat the poison around them
[15:26] Maomao
    to become a sweet poison themselves.
[15:32] Maomao
    I don't know what'll happen to that courtesan.
[15:35] Maomao
    Maybe the annoying customer
    will assert that she tried to poison him.
[15:40] Maomao
    Maybe the brothel will accuse him
    of ruining their merchandise instead.
[15:47] Maomao
    Well, whatever.
[15:48] Maomao
    You can't live life in this neighborhood
    worrying about every little thing.
[15:54] Meimei
    Maomao.
[15:57] Maomao
    Meimei.
[16:01] Meimei
    You're going back to the rear palace already?
[16:03] Maomao
    I have a year left on my term.
[16:06] Maomao
    I also have work to do
    that I can't force on others.
[16:09] Meimei
    That's too bad. You just got back.
[16:13] Meimei
    Everyone was worried
    when you suddenly went missing.
[16:17] Meimei
    Pairin, Joka, and even the old lady.
[16:19] Meimei
    Really? She never said...
[16:23] Meimei
    She acted like usual, right?
    It's because you came back.
[16:27] Maomao
    I see.
[16:31] Meimei
    Oh no, did I make you
    all sentimental? There, there!
[16:35] Maomao
    Come on, Meimei!
[16:41] Meimei
    Maomao, did you visit the annex?
[16:46] Maomao
    I'll go later.
[16:59] Luomen
    Take care of yourself.
[17:01] Maomao
    You, too.
[17:02] Maomao
    I'm off.
[17:05] Maomao
    My three-day homecoming
    was over before I knew it.
[17:13] Pairin
    I'm so sad to see you go so soon!
[17:16] Pairin
    Right, Master Lihaku?
[17:18] Lihaku
    Yes! I'm so sad, too!
[17:21] Maomao
    Looks like he had a good dream.
[17:23] Maomao
    Once you have a taste of the heavenly dews,
    there's no turning back to reality.
[17:28] Maomao
    I'm sure they'll squeeze him dry,
    gently but thoroughly.
[17:32] Maomao
    That said, I'm the one that has to cover
    for the amount that I couldn't pay up front.
[17:37] Old Lady
    Let me know when you're coming home next.
[17:41] Maomao
    And thus, my next buyer has been determined.
[17:50] Maomao
    What's with the intense stare?
[17:53] Maomao
    I'd better make my escape.
[17:55] Maomao
    I'll go get changed.
[17:57] Yinghua
    Tell us...
[17:58] Ailan
    Everything...
[17:59] Guiyuan
    Later!
[18:04] Jinshi
    I'll be waiting for you in the parlor.
[18:20] Maomao
    Excuse me.
[18:25] Maomao
    For some reason, he seems really upset.
[18:29] Maomao
    Am I over-thinking it?
[18:32] Maomao
    I hope I'm over-thinking it.
[18:33] Maomao
    Let's go with that.
[18:36] Maomao
    Why are we alone, anyway?
[18:39] Jinshi
    So, you went home, huh?
[18:42] Maomao
    Yes.
[18:43] Jinshi
    How was it?
[18:45] Maomao
    Everyone's doing well,
    so I was glad for that.
[18:49] Jinshi
    I see.
[18:50] Maomao
    Yes.
[18:52] Jinshi
    What is this Lihaku fellow like?
[18:56] Maomao
    He was my guarantor.
[18:59] Maomao
    How does he know that name?
[19:03] Jinshi
    Do you even know what that means?
[19:07] Maomao
    Yes. Only a higher-ranking official with
    a good record can serve as a guarantor.
[19:17] Jinshi
    Did he give you a hairpin?
[19:19] Maomao
    He was passing out several,
    so I took one as a consolation prize.
[19:23] Jinshi
    So, I lost to a consolation prize, huh?
[19:29] Jinshi
    I thought I gave you one too,
    but I never heard from you.
[19:34] Maomao
    Huh?
[19:36] Maomao
    In other words, he's just unhappy
    because I didn't rely on him instead?
[19:42] Maomao
    Weird. It's obviously way better
    to not get involved in any trouble.
[19:48] Maomao
    Is he so bored that he wants attention,
    even if it'll cause problems?
[19:53] Maomao
    I'm sorry. I couldn't think of
    a repayment that you'd enjoy.
[20:02] Jinshi
    What repayment?
[20:04] Jinshi
    Did you give something to this Lihaku guy?
[20:07] Maomao
    Yes, I granted him a night
     of blissful dreams.
[20:13] Jinshi
    A night...
[20:15] Maomao
    He seemed very happy.
[20:17] Maomao
    I worked hard, so I'm pleased with myself.
[20:24] Maomao
    What are you doing?
[20:26] Maomao
    Let's wipe you off before it stains.
[20:28] Maomao
    Excuse me.
[20:30] Maomao
    You should get this washed right away.
[20:36] Maomao
    I'll clean up the cup right
     away, too. Don't touch it.
[20:43] Maomao
    Excuse me.
[20:44] Maomao
    Whoosh.
[20:52] Maomao
    Ow!
[21:06] ED Lyrics
    Not just some superficial sweetness
[21:12] ED Lyrics
    I want more warmth than I can even use, oh
[21:18] ED Lyrics
    Having these selfish idealistic thoughts
[21:23] ED Lyrics
    I swallowed them again today
    before putting them into words
[21:28] ED Lyrics
    Still in my memories,
    the scent of fragrant olive
[21:33] ED Lyrics
    The color of twilight in the city
[21:36] ED Lyrics
    We were laughing...
[21:41] ED Lyrics
    Filled with sadness,
    the tears welled up in my eyes
[21:53] ED Lyrics
    I found a glow during those days
[22:01] ED Lyrics
    I guess I took everything for granted
[22:05] ED Lyrics
    The wind was so loud I covered my ears
[22:18] ED Lyrics
    I gotta stop being like that
[22:25] ED Lyrics
    Even if I stumble over the words of love
SIGN    Next Time
[22:46] Narrator
    Next time: "Suicide or Murder?"
SIGN    Episode 9: Suicide or Murder?

E9 - Suicide or Murder?

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
[01:38] Bureaucrats
    That man can't be trusted!
SIGN    Episode 9: Suicide or Murder?
[01:40] Bureaucrats
    That'd create other issues.
[01:49] Kounen
    Drinks! Bring more booze...
[01:52] Bureaucrat A
    Wow, he's changed a lot.
[01:55] Bureaucrat A
    Seeing his face makes the drinks taste bad.
[01:59] Bureaucrat B
    On that, I can agree.
[02:07] Kounen
    Hey... Thanks.
[02:19] Gaoshun
    How much longer are you going to sulk?
[02:22] Jinshi
    I'm not sulking.
[02:24] Gaoshun
    Please don't forget that
    you're still on the job.
[02:27] Jinshi
    I understand.
[02:29] Gaoshun
    He doesn't understand.
[02:32] Gaoshun
    The one known as Jinshi does not
    respond in such a childish way.
[02:37] Gaoshun
    The one known as Jinshi does not
    attach himself so strongly to a toy.
[02:42] Gaoshun
    Here is some more work.
[02:48] Gaoshun
    It took considerable effort to get
[02:50] Gaoshun
    Concubine Gyokuyou to stop laughing
    uncontrollably and explain.
[02:55] (Flashback) Jinshi
    Misunderstanding...?
[02:58] Gaoshun
    The payment she gave in return
    for acting as her guarantor
[03:01] Gaoshun
    was a meeting with a star courtesan.
[03:02] Gaoshun
    Who knew that girl had such connections?
[03:05] Gaoshun
    Who knows what image
    the master had in his mind?
[03:10] Gaoshun
    Youth is a scary thing.
[03:13] Gaoshun
    That said, to put so much effort
    into finishing work quickly...
[03:18] Gaoshun
    And going out to meet her...
[03:21] Gaoshun
    Only to find out she had left
    for home with another man...
[03:24] Gaoshun
    That must have been quite a shock, for sure.
[03:34] Gaoshun
    They should put more thought into these...
[03:38] Gaoshun
    Many bureaucrats try to pass bills
    that benefit them personally.
[03:43] Gaoshun
    I feel sorry for my master, who has to do
    extra work for those useless bills.
[03:55] Subordinate
    Master Jinshi!
[03:56] Gaoshun
    It's already after hours. Can this wait?
[03:59] Subordinate
    It's not about work... Well...
[04:08] Jinshi
    Sir Kounen?!
[04:09] Gaoshun
    Master Jinshi.
[04:11] Jinshi
    Let's go!
[04:15] Gyokuyou
    That's terrible news...
[04:18] Maomao
    Someone high up bit the dust.
[04:21] Maomao
    Maybe this is callous, but I can't
    sympathize with someone
[04:25] Maomao
    who I've never met or heard of.
[04:27] Maomao
    A man past the age of fifty,
    who died from drinking too much.
[04:32] Maomao
    Clearly self-inflicted.
[04:36] Maomao
    Since he went out of the way to make
    the head lady-in-waiting leave...
[04:42] Jinshi
    Apothecary, do you think
    the alcohol was really what killed him?
[04:46] Maomao
    I knew he'd ask.
[04:49] Maomao
    Anyone who likes alcohol should know that
    overindulgence in drink is poison in essence.
[04:54] Maomao
    Drinking constantly can sicken the organs.
[04:58] Maomao
    Drinking too much in one
     sitting can lead to death.
[05:02] Jinshi
    It was a party for a group of co-workers,
    and I heard he had a lot to drink.
[05:05] Maomao
    That could kill him.
[05:08] Jinshi
    But Sir Kounen could
    really handle his drink.
[05:10] Jinshi
    I don't think overindulgence would kill him.
[05:16] Maomao
    The man who died was named Kounen.
[05:18] Maomao
    He was a dynamic warrior
    who drank entire jars of alcohol,
[05:21] Maomao
    and had a well-liked personality, to boot.
[05:23] Jinshi
    Gaoshun.
[05:25] Gaoshun
    Yes.
[05:26] Jinshi
    This is the drink from that party.
[05:31] Maomao
    Ooh, booze!
[05:33] Jinshi
    The specific jar that Sir Kounen drank from
[05:35] Jinshi
    got dropped on the floor
    and the contents were lost.
[05:39] Maomao
    So, if that jar had poison in it,
    we'd have no way of knowing.
[05:44] Jinshi
    Indeed...
[05:46] Maomao
    How modest. He realizes
    he's asking for the impossible.
[05:51] Maomao
    He should just be excessively
    shiny like his usual self.
[05:54] Maomao
    For a while now, Master Jinshi has seemed
    much more childish than before.
[06:04] Maomao
    It's both sweet and salty.
[06:07] Maomao
    Like someone took a sweet
    drink and added salt to it...
[06:12] Jinshi
    What's wrong?
[06:13] Maomao
    It's a distinct taste.
[06:15] Jinshi
    Yes. Sweet, isn't it?
    That's how Master Kounen liked it.
[06:19] Jinshi
    He had a serious sweet tooth.
[06:21] Jinshi
    He'd never lay a finger on even
    the finest smoked meats and rock salts.
[06:26] Maomao
    Huh...
[06:27] Jinshi
    I heard he used to love spicy foods, but
    suddenly developed a sweet tooth one day.
[06:32] Jinshi
    Even his meals became all sweets.
[06:35] Maomao
    That'll cause diabetes.
[06:37] Jinshi
    Stop spoiling my nostalgia with reality.
[06:40] Jinshi
    You're having more?
[06:42] Maomao
    From spicy to sweet, huh?
[06:46] Maomao
    Were there salts available at the party?
[06:48] Jinshi
    Yes. Rock salts, moon cakes, and dried meat.
[06:54] Jinshi
    Do you want those, too?
[06:56] Maomao
    No, I'll be done with the drink by then.
[06:59] Jinshi
    That's not what I meant...
[07:01] Maomao
    Can you get the jar that
    Master Kounen was drinking from?
[07:04] Jinshi
    It's broken and in pieces.
[07:07] Maomao
    That's fine.
[07:14] Maomao
    Also, there's one thing
    I want you to look into.
[07:24] Maomao
    Excuse me.
[07:29] Gaoshun
    Here is the report.
[07:31] Maomao
    Thank you.
[07:37] Maomao
    I knew it.
[07:40] Jinshi
    Here's the bottle.
[07:49] Jinshi
    Is it safe to lick that?
[07:51] Maomao
    There's no poison here.
[07:59] Jinshi
    Salt?
[08:00] Maomao
    Yes. Master Jinshi, you mentioned how Master
    Kounen suddenly developed a sweet tooth, right?
[08:08] Maomao
    And that he only ate sweet foods after that?
[08:10] Jinshi
    Yes.
[08:11] Maomao
    Yet this jar contained so much salt
    that it left crystals behind when it dried.
[08:19] Maomao
    Salt is essential to the human body,
    but too much salt can also be poisonous.
[08:24] Jinshi
    So, the cause of his death is...
[08:26] Maomao
    Given the amount he drank,
    and the salt included,
[08:30] Maomao
    it's easy to conclude this was the cause.
[08:33] Jinshi
    Yes, but you should be able to tell
    if something tasted this salty—
[08:38] Maomao
    But he didn't. Please take a look at this.
[08:42] Maomao
    It's a report on Master Kounen's lifestyle.
[08:47] Maomao
    Judging from what's written here,
[08:49] Maomao
    it seems like Master Kounen
    lost his ability to taste salt.
[08:53] Jinshi
    Oh, no...
[08:55] Maomao
    Kounen seemed like a serious
    and skilled bureaucrat,
[08:59] Maomao
    with a stoic personality.
[09:05] Maomao
    Many years ago, he lost his wife
    and child to an epidemic.
[09:11] Maomao
    From that day on, he was all work, all day.
[09:14] Maomao
    His only forms of entertainment
    were drinking and sweets.
[09:19] Maomao
    There is an illness that
    eliminates the sense of taste.
[09:22] Maomao
    It can be caused by
    an unbalanced diet or stress.
[09:25] Maomao
    Serious people will sometimes
    repress their feelings,
[09:27] Maomao
    and that stress could lead to illness.
[09:30] Jinshi
    So, who put the salt in the bottle?
[09:35] Maomao
    That's not for me to determine.
[09:39] Maomao
    However, there was also salt
    in the drink I had yesterday.
[09:44] Maomao
    It could have been put there
    by someone at the party
[09:47] Maomao
    who didn't like sweet drinks.
[09:50] Maomao
    Alternatively, there are many who
    resent overly serious coworkers.
[09:55] Maomao
    Maybe they put some salt in the drink
[09:58] Maomao
    because they didn't like him and
    wanted to pull a little prank.
[10:03] Maomao
    But because he kept drinking
    seemingly without issue,
[10:07] Maomao
    perhaps they kept adding more,
    hoping he would notice.
[10:12] Jinshi
    Gaoshun.
[10:13] Gaoshun
    Yes.
[10:15] Gaoshun
    Understood.
[10:18] Maomao
    I'm a coward.
[10:20] Maomao
    I've practically named the culprit at this
    point, given the amount of hints I dropped.
[10:26] Maomao
    But I don't want to be directly
    responsible for someone getting punished.
[10:31] Jinshi
    Sorry for your trouble. Thank you.
[10:34] Maomao
    It's fine.
[10:36] Maomao
    An obsidian tassel...
[10:38] Maomao
    He's in mourning.
[10:41] Maomao
    Was he such a person of high esteem?
[10:44] Jinshi
    Yes. He helped me a lot when I was younger.
[10:52] Maomao
    He seems like a normal young man.
[10:55] Maomao
    I guess he is human, after all.
[11:00] Jinshi
    Oh, right.
[11:02] Maomao
    Huh?
[11:05] Jinshi
    Here's your reward.
[11:06] Maomao
    A bottle?
[11:07] Jinshi
    Yes. It's not the same
    as the one from yesterday.
[11:11] Maomao
    Booze!
[11:12] Jinshi
    Don't drink it out in the open.
[11:14] Maomao
    Yes! Thank you!
[11:23] Jinshi
    You don't seem all that grateful.
[11:25] Maomao
    Is that so? Perhaps you
     should return to your work.
[11:31] Maomao
    That reaction... I bet he's slacking off.
[11:33] Maomao
    Perhaps you should finish it
    before it starts piling up.
[11:36] Jinshi
    I am working seriously...
[11:38] Maomao
    What kind of work?
[11:39] Jinshi
    For example, there's a certain bill.
[11:43] Jinshi
    The idea is to set an age limit
    for alcohol consumption,
[11:46] Jinshi
    to prevent young ones from
     losing themselves in drink.
[11:49] Maomao
    Huh?
[11:50] Jinshi
    The bill proposes a ban on drinking
    alcohol until the age of twenty.
[11:59] Maomao
    Master Jinshi...
[12:01] Maomao
    Please, please don't pass that bill!
[12:08] Jinshi
    Hmm. Well, it's not something
    I can decide on my own.
[12:11] Maomao
    M-Master Jinshi!
[12:45] Eunuch A
    Doctor!
[12:49] Eunuch A
    This way!
[12:55] Guen
    There it is!
[13:02] Maomao
    We're lucky it's winter now.
[13:04] Maomao
    She's still in good shape,
    despite being a drowned corpse.
[13:07] Guen
    How can you look directly at her?
[13:09] Maomao
    Where was she found?
[13:11] Eunuch 1
    She was floating in the outside moat.
[13:13] Eunuch 1
    From her dress, we assumed
    she was a servant at the rear palace.
[13:16] Maomao
    I see. That's why they called our doc.
[13:19] Maomao
    But a doctor in charge of
    autopsies acting like this...
[13:22] Maomao
    He truly is a quack.
[13:23] Guen
    Little lady, can I leave this to you?
[13:26] Maomao
    Nope.
[13:27] Guen
    Huh?
[13:27] Maomao
    I've been ordered to not touch corpses.
[13:30] Jinshi
    That's unexpected.
[13:32] Guen
    Master Jinshi!
[13:34] Maomao
    Greetings, Master Jinshi.
[13:37] Jinshi
    You don't seem to be
    uncomfortable around corpses.
[13:39] Maomao
    I've gotten used to them.
[13:41] Maomao
    The pleasure district is just
     one street away from lawless chaos.
[13:44] Jinshi
    Why can't you touch corpses?
[13:47] Maomao
    My teacher told me not to.
[13:49] Jinshi
    Is it an aversion to death?
[13:51] Maomao
    No...
[13:53] Maomao
    It's because humans can become
    medicinal ingredients, too.
[13:57] (Flashback) Lakan
    Given your curiosity, once you give that a try,
[13:59] (Flashback) Lakan
    it wouldn't be long before
    you start digging up graves.
[14:02] (Flashback) Lakan
    Do not cross that line, ever.
[14:05] (Flashback) Maomao
    Y-Yes.
[14:07] Jinshi
    I see.
[14:09] Maomao
    What a rude response.
[14:11] Jinshi
    Doctor, could you please
    do a proper autopsy?
[14:14] Guen
    Understood...
[14:18] Guen
    Eek!
[14:19] Maomao
    "Eek," indeed...
[14:23] Maomao
    She's tall. Hard wooden shoes...
    Bandages on one foot...
[14:29] Maomao
    Fingers are all red.
[14:33] Maomao
    It must have been cold in that water.
[14:42] Jinshi
    The girl was a servant and was
     working normally yesterday.
[14:47] Jinshi
    The guard believes she climbed the wall
    last night and threw herself in.
[14:52] Jinshi
    A suicide.
[14:54] Maomao
    Suicide...
[14:57] Jinshi
    What do you think?
[14:58] Maomao
    I can't tell if she committed suicide,
[15:00] Maomao
    but I think it was impossible
    for her to do it alone.
[15:03] Jinshi
    What do you mean?
[15:05] Maomao
    There were no ladders on the wall,
    and no other climbing tools.
[15:10] Maomao
    The rear palace walls are at least
    four times my height.
[15:14] Jinshi
    So, you mean she couldn't
     have climbed it without tools.
[15:17] Maomao
    In most cases.
[15:19] Maomao
    Strictly speaking, scaling the wall
    without tools is possible.
[15:24] Maomao
    Do you remember the ghost issue
    from a while ago?
[15:28] Maomao
    Concubine Fuyou?
[15:29] Maomao
    Yes.
[15:30] Maomao
    I was wondering how she climbed the wall,
[15:34] Maomao
    so I did a thorough investigation of it.
[15:38] Maomao
    That's where I found the protrusions
    that I believe the craftsmen used.
[15:44] Maomao
    That said, it would be difficult
    for most regular women,
[15:47] Maomao
    especially those with
    bound feet, like that servant.
[15:52] Maomao
    Foot binding is a custom where
    small feet are considered beautiful.
[15:57] Maomao
    It's not done on all women,
[16:00] Maomao
    but I do occasionally see the distinct
    walking style in the rear palace, too.
[16:04] Jinshi
    If it's not suicide,
[16:07] Jinshi
    are you saying it's murder?
[16:08] Maomao
    I don't know that.
[16:11] Maomao
    But I think it's fairly certain that
    she was alive when she fell in the moat.
[16:16] Maomao
    She must have clawed at
    the walls to try to climb out.
[16:19] Maomao
    Her fingers were bloodied and red.
[16:25] Jinshi
    Yes...
[16:27] Maomao
    Suicide, or murder...
[16:38] Maomao
    I would never think to take my own life.
[16:43] Maomao
    I'd hate if someone killed me, too.
[16:47] Maomao
    If I died, I wouldn't be able
    to test any more drugs or poisons.
[16:53] Maomao
    But if I were to die...
[16:58] Jinshi
    What are you thinking about?
[17:00] Maomao
    About what kind of poison I would use to die.
[17:03] Jinshi
    Are you trying to die?!
[17:05] Maomao
    Not at all. But nobody knows when they'll die.
[17:11] Maomao
    Even if it's not something they
    wished for, a malicious third party
[17:15] Maomao
    can cause an undesired death.
[17:18] Maomao
    Like with Master Kounen.
[17:22] Maomao
    Nobody knows when it could happen.
[17:26] Maomao
    There is no way to resist fate...
[18:42] Maomao
    Master Jinshi.
[18:44] Jinshi
    What is it?
[18:48] Maomao
    If you're ever tasked with executing me,
    can you make sure it's with poison?
[18:53] Jinshi
    Where'd that come from?!
[18:54] Maomao
    If I made a mistake, you would
    probably be the one to give the order.
[19:10] Maomao
    Did I step in it just now?
[19:13] Maomao
    I'm sorry, it's not my place to say.
[19:16] Maomao
    I won't complain if it's
    a hanging or a beheading.
[19:19] Jinshi
    No, really, why are you saying all this?!
[19:23] Maomao
    Because I'm a commoner.
[19:25] Maomao
    My life is easily taken away
    over the slightest mistake.
[19:28] Jinshi
    I would never do such a thing.
[19:30] Maomao
    It's not a "would-or-would-not"
    type of issue. It's "can-or-cannot."
[19:36] Maomao
    Looks like I struck a nerve there.
[19:40] Maomao
    If there's no further
    business, I'll excuse myself.
[20:00] Maomao
    Later, I heard through rumors
[20:04] Maomao
    that the dead servant was at the garden
    party where the poisoning took place.
[20:09] Maomao
    They found a will with
    some relevant content in it,
[20:12] Maomao
    so the case was closed as a suicide.
[20:22] Gaoshun
    The report from the other day is finally ready.
[20:25] Jinshi
    It's been two months since I asked for
    you to find someone with burns on their arms.
[20:30] Jinshi
    You took too long.
[20:31] Gaoshun
    I'm very sorry.
[20:33] Jinshi
    So, who is it?
[20:36] Gaoshun
    Yes. It's actually higher up than I thought.
[20:40] Gaoshun
    Fengming, from the Garnet Pavilion.
[20:47] Gaoshun
    Head lady-in-waiting under Concubine Ah-Duo.
[20:53] Jinshi
    I see.
[20:55] Jinshi
    You're excused.
[21:02] Jinshi
    Concubine Ah-Duo...
[21:06] ED Lyrics
    Not just some superficial sweetness
[21:12] ED Lyrics
    I want more warmth than I can even use, oh
[21:18] ED Lyrics
    Having these selfish idealistic thoughts
[21:23] ED Lyrics
    I swallowed them again today
    before putting them into words
[21:28] ED Lyrics
    Still in my memories,
    the scent of fragrant olive
[21:33] ED Lyrics
    The color of twilight in the city
[21:36] ED Lyrics
    We were laughing...
[21:41] ED Lyrics
    Filled with sadness,
    the tears welled up in my eyes
[21:53] ED Lyrics
    I found a glow during those days
[22:01] ED Lyrics
    I guess I took everything for granted
[22:06] ED Lyrics
    The wind was so loud I covered my ears
[22:18] ED Lyrics
    I gotta stop being like that
[22:26] ED Lyrics
    Even if I stumble over the words of love
SIGN    Next Time
[22:46] Narrator
    Next time: "Honey."
SIGN    Episode 10: Honey

E10 - Honey

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
SIGN    Episode 10: Honey
[01:52] Xiaolan
    I heard about the servant
    who drowned. It was a suicide!
[01:56] Xiaolan
    She was a servant at the Garnet Pavilion.
[01:59] Xiaolan
    I heard she was the one who poisoned
    Lady Lishu's food at the garden party...
[02:03] Xiaolan
    I wonder if she did it because
     she served Concubine Ah-Duo?
[02:07] Maomao
    You mean, Pure Consort Ah-Duo?
[02:09] Xiaolan
    Yeah. She's going to lose her title
    as one of the four consorts
[02:12] Xiaolan
    to be replaced by a new,
    younger concubine, I hear.
[02:16] Maomao
    Concubine Ah-Duo is one year older
    than the emperor, at 35 years old.
[02:22] Maomao
    She had a male baby with the emperor once,
    back when he was still a prince, but lost him.
[02:27] Maomao
    It's too bad, but the whole rear palace
    system is built for creating many babies.
[02:33] Maomao
    Mother of a dead male baby.
[02:37] Maomao
    Will the same thing happen to Lady Lihua,
    if she can't have another baby?
[02:42] Maomao
    There's no guarantee that Lady Gyokuyou
    will continue to have the emperor's love.
[02:48] Maomao
    Even the most beautiful
    flowers wilt over time.
[02:51] Maomao
    The flowers of the rear palace are
    meaningless unless they bear fruit.
[02:55] Xiaolan
    I gotta go now.
[02:57] Maomao
    Oh. Take this, too.
[02:59] Maomao
    They're leftovers from yesterday's tea party.
[03:01] Xiaolan
    Thanks!
[03:02] Xiaolan
    Enough snacks to have leftovers?
    Tea parties are awesome.
[03:08] Maomao
    I'm not so sure.
[03:10] Maomao
    A tea party is definitely a form
    of work for a concubine.
[03:14] Yinghua
    Maomao, help us set up!
[03:16] Maomao
    Another one?
[03:18] Maomao
    You're working quite hard for this one.
[03:21] Yinghua
    Obviously. This time,
    it's a high-ranked concubine,
[03:23] Yinghua
    the Virtuous Consort, Lady Lishu!
[03:26] Maomao
    The politics of the rear palace
    is well-represented here.
[03:30] Gyokuyou
    Welcome, Concubine Lishu.
[03:34] Lishu
    Thank you.
[03:36] Maomao
    Non-stop probing of each other's thoughts.
[03:40] Maomao
    Is it part of the nature of being a woman
    to be cautious of the same sex?
[03:45] Maomao
    To be honest, they seem more wary
    than when the emperor is here.
[03:50] Maomao
    The way Lady Gyokuyou gleans
    information through polite conversation
[03:54] Maomao
    shows how skilled of a concubine she is.
[03:57] Maomao
    I heard she sends the information
    she gathers to her family back home.
[04:00] Maomao
    Being a trade hub, it must be
    important to understand the times.
[04:14] Maomao
    The taster at the garden party.
[04:16] Maomao
    I'm glad to see she hasn't been
    too harshly punished.
[04:20] Maomao
    I'm not going to bite her head off or anything.
[04:24] Maomao
    The other servants aren't paying
    attention to their mistress at all.
[04:28] Maomao
    That said, it doesn't seem like they're
    actively harassing her, either.
[04:32] Maomao
    If my report to Master Gaoshun
    was mistaken, that's fortunate.
[04:37] Gyokuyou
    Do you have any issues with sweets?
[04:40] Lishu
    I love sweets.
[04:42] Gyokuyou
    Great.
[04:45] Gyokuyou
    It's cold out, so I was
    wondering if you'd like this.
[04:49] Gyokuyou
    It's orange peels boiled
    in honey. It'll warm you up.
[04:56] Gyokuyou
    I hope you like it.
[05:03] Maomao
    Hmm? She can't handle honey, either?
[05:06] Lishu's Lady-in-Waiting 1
    Is she being a picky eater again?
[05:08] Lishu's Lady-in-Waiting 2
    She won't even eat something served to her?
[05:10] Lishu's Lady-in-Waiting 3
    I know, right?
[05:22] Maomao
    Lady Gyokuyou.
[05:25] Gyokuyou
    Oh, my. Ailan, I'm sorry.
[05:28] Gyokuyou
    I think this one needs to
     be boiled a bit longer.
[05:31] Gyokuyou
    Let me get you something else.
[05:33] Gyokuyou
    How about hot ginger water?
[05:36] Lishu
    Yes, that's fine.
[05:40] Maomao
    Unfortunately, it seems like
    I wasn't wrong about the bullying.
[05:48] Yinghua
    We'll clean up here.
[05:50] Ailan
    Maomao, you can rest.
[05:53] Maomao
    I can clean too, you know...
[05:56] Jinshi
    How was the tea party for
    Concubines Gyokuyou and Lishu?
[06:00] Maomao
    I thought it was odd how that
    tea party happened so suddenly.
[06:06] Maomao
    So, it was this guy's idea, after all.
[06:09] Maomao
    They had a enjoyable time.
[06:12] Jinshi
    I'm not done with you.
[06:15] Maomao
    Could you please let go?
[06:19] Jinshi
    Did you hear that
     the garden party poisoning
[06:21] Jinshi
    was done by the Garnet Pavilion
    servant who committed suicide?
[06:26] Maomao
    I heard the rumors.
[06:29] Jinshi
    Do you think she really committed suicide?
[06:33] Maomao
    That's not for me to determine.
[06:37] Jinshi
    Why would a common servant
    poison Concubine Lishu?
[06:43] Maomao
    I don't know.
[06:51] Jinshi
    Well then, can you go help out at
    the Garnet Pavilion, starting tomorrow?
[06:56] Maomao
    "Can" I? It's not like I have a choice.
[07:03] Maomao
    Understood.
[07:06] Maomao
    Mansions are painted in their
    masters' colors, figuratively speaking.
[07:10] Maomao
    Concubine Gyokuyou's
    Jade Pavilion feels homey,
[07:13] Maomao
    while Concubine Lihua's
    Crystal Pavilion felt refined and noble.
[07:17] Maomao
    The Garnet Pavilion, home to Concubine Ah-Duo,
[07:20] Maomao
    was practical and simple,
    yet polished and classy.
[07:24] Fengming
    My apologies for summoning you so suddenly.
[07:26] Fengming
    I'm looking forward to working
    with you over the next three days.
[07:30] Maomao
    Master Jinshi didn't tell me
    to do anything specific.
[07:33] Maomao
    I guess I should just work.
[07:35] Ah-Duo
    These are new faces.
[07:37] Ah-Duo
    Fengming, who are they?
[07:39] Fengming
    Temporary help for our big cleaning day.
[07:43] Ah-Duo
    I see. Thanks for the help.
[07:46] Maomao
    Ah-Duo, the Pure Consort.
[07:49] Maomao
    She's neither showy nor voluptuous,
[07:51] Maomao
    but she has an androgynous,
    almost gallant kind of beauty.
[07:54] Maomao
    She's really thirty-five?
[07:57] Maomao
    If she dressed differently,
    she'd pass as a young civil servant.
[08:01] Maomao
    She'd probably look better in a riding suit,
    instead of her skirt and dress.
[08:15] Maomao
    Whoa, those longing stares.
[08:25] Maomao
    Does she remind me of someone?
[08:32] Maomao
    Lady Fengming, the head lady-in-waiting.
[08:35] Maomao
    I expected the Pure Consort's
    head lady-in-waiting
[08:37] Maomao
    to be from an important family,
[08:39] Maomao
    but she's surprisingly approachable.
[08:42] Fengming
    Can you air the books out?
[08:48] Fengming
    You can ask the eunuchs
    to handle the heavy items.
[08:54] Maomao
    She really is the oldest
    high-ranking concubine.
[08:57] Maomao
    Despite the efficient look,
    the mansion has a whole lot of stuff.
[09:04] Maomao
    Similar to the Jade Pavilion, the servants
    at the Garnet Pavilion are hard workers.
[09:08] Maomao
    Certain fools who are all talk
    could learn a thing or two.
[09:23] Maomao
    Phew.
[09:27] Maomao
    I guess that's it.
[09:29] Fengming
    Incredible. You did this much already?
[09:31] Fengming
    And so thorough, too. Can you
     help with the parlor, as well?
[09:37] Maomao
    Yes.
[09:38] Maomao
    She's friendly, observant,
    and praises others well.
[09:42] Maomao
    Seems like she's skilled at handling
    others as head lady-in-waiting.
[09:53] Maomao
    I haven't done so much
    physical labor in a while.
[09:59] Fengming
    Good work. Thank you for your help today.
[10:02] Maomao
    You're welcome.
[10:03] Fengming
    Oh, I know. You'll be
    staying here tonight, correct?
[10:06] Fengming
    Follow me, please.
[10:16] Maomao
    A sweet smell?
[10:18] Fengming
    Please use this. It'll get cold tonight.
[10:22] Maomao
    Thank you.
[10:24] Fengming
    Rest well.
[10:36] Maomao
    Master Jinshi didn't tell me
    to do anything specific.
[10:40] Maomao
    But...
[11:01] Maomao
    Is the mastermind behind
    the poisoning really here?
[11:05] Maomao
    They really are all hard workers.
[11:08] Maomao
    Not just the ladies-in-waiting, but...
[11:10] Garnet Pavilion Lady-in-Waiting 1
    Lady Fengming! We can take care of that!
[11:14] Fengming
    Don't worry about it.
    It's just something I noticed.
[11:18] Maomao
    Lady Fengming is the leading example.
[11:20] Maomao
    She's well past her prime,
    but would have made a great wife.
[11:25] Maomao
    I wonder if she never
    considered getting married.
[11:28] Maomao
    Did she choose to serve
    Concubine Ah-Duo for life?
[11:33] Maomao
    Strong loyalty is a possible
    motive for the poisoning.
[11:38] Maomao
    Now that a new concubine is about to enter,
[11:41] Maomao
    the high-ranking concubine at
    the most risk is Concubine Ah-Duo.
[11:46] Maomao
    But what if a vacancy
    opened up elsewhere first?
[11:49] Maomao
    The emperor is only interested
    in ripened fruit.
[11:52] Maomao
    He doesn't visit Lady Lishu.
[11:55] Maomao
    That's fine, given her age of fourteen,
[11:58] Maomao
    but one could also claim she's not
    serving her role as concubine.
[12:02] Maomao
    If someone were to poison
    someone for Concubine Ah-Duo,
[12:05] Maomao
    it wouldn't be out of the question
    to target Lady Lishu.
[12:09] Garnet Pavilion Lady-in-Waiting 2
    Can someone help me out here?
[12:13] Maomao
    Honey?
[12:14] Garnet Pavilion Lady-in-Waiting 2
    Lady Fengming's family runs an apiary.
[12:18] Maomao
    No wonder there's so much honey here,
    despite it being so expensive.
[12:23] Maomao
    That must have been
    the sweet smell from last night.
[12:32] Maomao
    Lady Lishu?
[12:33] Maomao
    Accompanied by just the one taster?
[12:36] Maomao
    Why is she at the Garnet Pavilion?
[12:38] Maomao
    Coming to think of it, at the tea party...
[12:48] Maomao
    That's what happened at the Garnet Pavilion.
[12:52] Jinshi
    I see.
[12:54] Jinshi
    And?
[12:56] Maomao
    That's it. No "and" or "but."
[12:59] Maomao
    I don't know what he wants.
    I'm just an apothecary.
[13:04] Maomao
    If he wants a spy,
    he's asking the wrong girl.
[13:07] Maomao
    What's with his casual
    attitude recently, anyway?
[13:15] Jinshi
    Let's change the question, then.
[13:17] Jinshi
    If one of them could contact the outside
    using some special method,
[13:21] Jinshi
    who would that be, you think?
[13:23] Maomao
    What a roundabout way of asking.
[13:26] Maomao
    I suppose the only possibility would be
    Lady Fengming, the head lady-in-waiting.
[13:31] Jinshi
    Based on what?
[13:33] Maomao
    She had bandages around her left wrist.
[13:36] Maomao
    Those colored text plates were wrapped in
    a woman's dress with burns on the sleeves.
[13:43] Maomao
    Why would anyone make multi-colored fires?
[13:45] Maomao
    One possibility is that it was a code.
[13:49] Maomao
    Honestly, that gentle head lady-in-waiting
[13:52] Maomao
    didn't seem like she was
    part of a conspiracy.
[13:56] Maomao
    But that's just my opinion.
[14:01] Jinshi
    I suppose that's acceptable.
[14:04] Maomao
    I'm sure he knew this already,
    eating honey so ostentatiously.
[14:11] Jinshi
    A good child needs to be rewarded.
[14:15] Maomao
    I r-respectfully decline.
[14:17] Jinshi
    No need to be modest.
[14:22] Maomao
    No, thank you! Please offer it to someone else!
[14:25] Maomao
    This guy thinks he can get away with
    anything because he has a pretty face!
[14:29] Maomao
    Oh, right, that's the kind of
    pervert he's always been!
[14:34] Maomao
    Master Gaoshun!
[14:37] Maomao
    He's getting laxatives in his food later!
[14:39] Jinshi
    Do you not like sweets?
[14:40] Maomao
    I like spicy foods.
[14:42] Jinshi
    But you can eat this, right?
[14:44] Maomao
    Damn it, he won't listen...
[14:47] Maomao
    If he weren't so high up,
    I'd kick him in the groin...
[14:49] Maomao
    Wait, there's nothing to kick there.
[14:52] Maomao
    Should I just accept this as an order?
    Or escape to maintain my dignity?
[15:01] Maomao
    If this was aconite syrup,
    I'd have just accepted it.
[15:08] Gyokuyou
    Do you have any issues with sweets?
[15:10] Gyokuyou
    I hope you like it.
[15:32] Maomao
    Honey?
[15:33] (Flashback) Garnet Pavilion Lady-in-Waiting 2
    Lady Fengming's family runs an apiary.
[15:37] Maomao
    Lady Lishu?
[15:39] Maomao
    Syrup...
[15:44] Maomao
    Honey.
[15:47] Jinshi
    Apothecary?
[15:49] Gyokuyou
    What are you doing to my lady-in-waiting?
[15:55] Jinshi
    Concubine Gyokuyou! I was just—
[15:57] Gyokuyou
    On whose authority are you doing this?
[16:04] Gaoshun
    Xiaomao, this was just a prank gone too far.
[16:08] Gaoshun
    Could you forgive Master Jinshi?
[16:11] Maomao
    In that case, next time you can do
     the licking for me, Master Gaoshun.
[16:15] Gaoshun
    L-Licking? That's a bit...
[16:21] Maomao
    Fine, you get the point.
[16:23] Maomao
    Also, there are a few things
    I want to check on.
[16:31] Maomao
    Excuse me.
[16:32] Lishu
    Welcome, I—Oh?
[16:35] Lishu
    Master Jinshi's not with you?
[16:37] Maomao
    I'm afraid not. Apologies
     for the sudden intrusion.
[16:41] Lishu
    So, what do you want,
    Jade Pavilion lady-in-waiting?
[16:45] Maomao
    I have a question for you.
[16:53] Lishu
    I remember you from the garden party.
[16:57] Lishu
    What is it?
[16:59] Maomao
    Do you dislike honey?
[17:02] Lishu
    How did you know?!
[17:04] Maomao
    I saw it on your face.
[17:08] Maomao
    Did honey upset your stomach in the past?
[17:11] Maomao
    It's common for someone to get food poisoning
    and have trouble with honey after that.
[17:16] Lishu
    That's not it. I don't remember.
[17:19] Lishu
    It was when I was a baby.
[17:21] Lishu
    I heard it was life-threatening.
SIGN    Banned
[17:25] Lishu
    Since then, my nurses told me to not eat it.
[17:28] Lishu's Lady-in-Waiting 1
    Where are your manners?
    Probing Lady Lishu like that.
[17:35] Maomao
    Says the lady-in-waiting who didn't even
    try to protect her at the tea party.
[17:38] Lishu's Lady-in-Waiting 1
    What's with that look?
[17:39] Lishu's Lady-in-Waiting 1
    There's no need to listen to her.
[17:42] Lishu's Lady-in-Waiting 2
    That's right, she's being rude to
    the Virtuous Consort. We should expel her!
[17:47] Maomao
    So this is how they paint outsiders as the
    villain to pretend they are the only allies.
[17:53] Lishu's Lady-in-Waiting 2
    We're always looking out for Lady Lishu.
[17:54] Maomao
    It would be easy to trick a naive girl.
[17:56] Lishu's Lady-in-Waiting 1
    Who does she think she is?
[17:59] Maomao
    The isolated concubine has nobody
    to rely on but her ladies-in-waiting.
[18:03] Maomao
    Not knowing she's being harassed...
[18:07] Maomao
    It's a vicious cycle.
[18:10] Maomao
    I am here on orders.
[18:13] Maomao
    If you have objections, please take
     them up with Master Jinshi.
[18:17] Lishu's Lady-in-Waiting 1
    To Master J-Jinshi?!
[18:19] Lishu's Lady-in-Waiting 2
    Directly?!
[18:21] Maomao
    He owes me this much, at the very least.
[18:24] Maomao
    Let's see what reasons they come up with
    to approach the pervert eunuch.
[18:29] Maomao
    And one more thing.
[18:33] Maomao
    Are you familiar with Lady Fengming,
[18:36] Maomao
    head lady-in-waiting at the Garnet Pavilion?
[18:54] Gaoshun
    Xiaomao?
[18:55] Maomao
    Master Gaoshun, is there
    any way I can learn about
[18:58] Maomao
    past events that happened
    in the rear palace?
[19:04] Maomao
    I can search the court library.
[19:08] Maomao
    Thank you.
[19:15] Gaoshun
    What did she figure out this time?
[19:18] Gaoshun
    She's a smart girl, especially
    given that she's only seventeen.
[19:22] Gaoshun
    Her knowledge and calm composure...
[19:24] Gaoshun
    Her ability to logically think through
    and deal with various issues...
[19:29] Gaoshun
    She does have some peculiarities,
    but it's still impressive.
[19:36] Maomao
    Seventeen years ago, when
    the current emperor was still a prince...
[19:41] Maomao
    He had a son with Concubine Ah-Duo.
[19:45] Maomao
    The baby's already gone, but...
[19:48] Maomao
    He was born around the same time
[19:49] Maomao
    as the prior emperor
    and empress dowager's son,
[19:51] Maomao
    In other words, the current
     emperor's little brother.
[19:55] Maomao
    That was the only child
    the emperor had as a prince,
[19:58] Maomao
    and Lady Ah-Duo was his only concubine.
[20:01] Maomao
    It says the current emperor and
    Concubine Ah-Duo are foster siblings,
[20:04] Maomao
    so that explains his attachment to her...
[20:08] Maomao
    But it's surprising to learn a man that
    lustful only had one concubine back then.
[20:13] Maomao
    Sixteen years ago, the baby died.
    The baby was delivered by...
SIGN    Doctor Luomen
[20:23] Maomao
    I did have that hunch.
[20:27] Maomao
    Several of the herbs growing in the rear
    palace were the same ones I used growing up.
[20:34] Maomao
    Someone must have transplanted them.
[20:38] Maomao
    A man who drags his feet like an old woman.
[20:43] Maomao
    A doctor overqualified for the position
    of a pleasure district apothecary.
[20:49] Maomao
    A former eunuch with a bone
    removed from one knee.
SIGN    ...Luomen, expelled...
[20:55] Maomao
    What were you doing,
[20:58] Maomao
    Dad?
[21:06] ED Lyrics
    Not just some superficial sweetness
[21:12] ED Lyrics
    I want more warmth than I can even use, oh
[21:18] ED Lyrics
    Having these selfish idealistic thoughts
[21:23] ED Lyrics
    I swallowed them again today
    before putting them into words
[21:28] ED Lyrics
    Still in my memories,
    the scent of fragrant olive
[21:33] ED Lyrics
    The color of twilight in the city
[21:36] ED Lyrics
    We were laughing...
[21:41] ED Lyrics
    Filled with sadness,
    the tears welled up in my eyes
[21:53] ED Lyrics
    I found a glow during those days
[22:01] ED Lyrics
    I guess I took everything for granted
[22:06] ED Lyrics
    The wind was so loud I covered my ears
[22:18] ED Lyrics
    I gotta stop being like that
[22:25] ED Lyrics
    Even if I stumble over the words of love
SIGN    Next Time
[22:46] Narrator
    Next time: "Reducing Two to One."
SIGN    Episode 11: Reducing Two to One

E11 - Reducing Two to One

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
SIGN    Episode 11: Reducing Two to One
[01:44] Fengming
    A letter from Concubine Gyokuyou?
[01:46] Maomao
    Yes. I was ordered to deliver it directly.
[01:49] Fengming
    Lady Ah-Duo is away on a tea party.
[01:56] Maomao
    There's something I would like to
    discuss with you, Lady Fengming.
[02:00] Fengming
    I understand.
[02:11] Maomao
    The luggage is all packed up.
    That must mean, as I thought...
[02:15] Fengming
    Please.
[02:22] Fengming
    So, what did you need today?
[02:25] Fengming
    We've finished cleaning this place.
[02:28] Maomao
    When are you moving out?
[02:32] Fengming
    You're a smart one.
[02:35] Maomao
    The big clean-up was an excuse.
[02:38] Maomao
    In order to welcome a new high-ranked
    concubine during the new year's celebration,
[02:42] Maomao
    Concubine Ah-Duo must leave this palace.
[02:47] Maomao
    Concubine Ah-Duo can't have
     children anymore, can she?
[02:53] Maomao
    What happened when she gave birth?
[02:55] Fengming
    I fail to see how that's any of your business.
[02:59] Maomao
    It is my business.
[03:04] Maomao
    The doctor who attended
    that birth was my father.
[03:10] Maomao
    My guess is the misfortune was
    that Concubine Ah-Duo,
[03:12] Maomao
    the prince's concubine at the time,
[03:14] Maomao
    gave birth at the same time
    as the empress dowager.
[03:27] (Flashback) Fengming
    When is the doctor coming back?!
[03:29] (Flashback) Lady-in-Waiting
    He's still at the empress dowager's.
[03:31] (Flashback) Fengming
    Lady Ah-Duo!
[03:31] (Flashback) Fengming
    Lady Ah-Duo, it's all right!
    Fengming is by your side!
[03:35] Maomao
    The empress dowager was given higher priority,
[03:38] Maomao
    and Concubine Ah-Duo's childbirth had to wait.
[03:47] (Flashback) Fengming
    Lady Ah-Duo.
[03:49] Maomao
    That must have been when
    Concubine Ah-Duo lost her uterus.
[03:54] Maomao
    The child that was born to Concubine
    Ah-Duo then passed away soon after.
[04:01] Maomao
    Lady Fengming, are you
    blaming yourself for that?
[04:05] Maomao
    You must have been the one taking care of
    the baby instead of Concubine Ah-Duo.
[04:15] Fengming
    You've figured it all out,
[04:17] Fengming
    despite being the daughter of the quack
    who couldn't help Lady Ah-Duo.
[04:23] Maomao
    You're right.
SIGN    ...Luomen, expelled...
[04:28] Maomao
    It's thought that the cause
    of the baby's death was
[04:30] Maomao
    the same toxic make-up
     from the other incidents,
[04:34] Maomao
    but that's not the case, is it?
[04:38] Maomao
    That doctor you call a quack
    must have banned that powder.
[04:43] Maomao
    You're a wise person. You wouldn't
     have let the baby die from that.
[04:47] Maomao
    The real cause of death was this.
[04:52] Maomao
    Many flowers have poison in them,
[04:56] Maomao
    like aconite or azalea.
[04:58] Maomao
    Their nectar can be poisonous, too.
[05:02] Fengming
    I am aware.
[05:03] Maomao
    But back then...
[05:06] Maomao
    you weren't.
[05:07] Maomao
    You didn't realize regular
    honey with no poison,
[05:10] Maomao
    the medicine you thought was good for health,
[05:14] Maomao
    can be harmful to a newborn baby.
[05:21] (Flashback) Ah-Duo
    Thank you for your help as always, Fengming.
[05:23] (Flashback) Fengming
    It's no trouble at all, Lady Ah-Duo.
[05:26] (Flashback) Fengming
    Please rest and recover soon.
[05:33] Maomao
    And thus, Concubine Ah-Duo's child passed away.
[05:38] Maomao
    The cause was treated as a mystery.
[05:40] Maomao
    My father Luomen, the attending
    doctor at the time,
[05:43] Maomao
    was blamed for the repeated mistakes,
    including the one at childbirth.
[05:47] Maomao
    He was expelled from the rear palace.
[05:50] Maomao
    But later on, you accidentally learned
    the true cause of the baby's death.
[05:57] Maomao
    Someone taught you that honey can be
    poisonous to infants, didn't they?
[06:04] Maomao
    You had to make sure
    Concubine Ah-Duo didn't find out.
[06:07] Maomao
    She couldn't know you were
    the one who killed her only child.
[06:11] Maomao
    So, you tried to eliminate them.
[06:15] Maomao
    That person is...
[06:18] Maomao
    Concubine Lishu.
[06:22] Maomao
    During the previous emperor's reign,
[06:23] Maomao
    Concubine Lishu was close to
    Concubine Ah-Duo, who was her elder.
[06:28] Maomao
    Concubine Ah-Duo was also
    fond of Concubine Lishu.
[06:31] Maomao
    A young girl, taken from her parents,
[06:34] Maomao
    and a woman who could no longer give birth.
[06:38] Maomao
    There may have been a type of
    codependency developing.
[06:42] Maomao
    During that time, you learned
     from Concubine Lishu
[06:44] Maomao
    that she almost died eating honey as a baby.
[06:49] Maomao
    To make sure Concubine Ah-Duo
    never heard that story,
[06:52] Maomao
    you started to chase Concubine Lishu
    away from the Garnet Pavilion.
[06:56] Maomao
    Later, the previous emperor passed away,
[06:59] Maomao
    and Concubine Lishu was forced to leave the
     rear palace, unaware of why she was chased out.
[07:06] Maomao
    You must have felt quite relieved.
[07:09] Maomao
    But Concubine Lishu, who you
    thought you'd never see again,
[07:13] Maomao
    returned to the rear palace.
[07:16] Maomao
    As another high-ranking concubine.
[07:18] Maomao
    As a threat to Concubine Ah-Duo's status.
[07:22] Maomao
    That insolent child tried to visit
    Concubine Ah-Duo many times,
[07:26] Maomao
    as if trying to be with her mother.
[07:29] Maomao
    To protect Concubine Ah-Duo,
    who is incapable of childbirth,
[07:32] Maomao
    and to hide the issue with the honey...
[07:36] Maomao
    You poisoned Concubine Lishu's soup.
[07:43] Fengming
    What do you want?
[07:46] Maomao
    There's nothing.
[07:50] Fengming
    Anything. Just ask.
[07:59] Maomao
    You must know that's meaningless.
[08:21] Fengming
    Hey. Do you know what's most precious
    to the person most precious to you?
[08:31] Fengming
    The moment I met Lady Ah-Duo,
[08:34] Fengming
    I knew I would never serve anyone else again.
[08:38] Fengming
    Despite being a woman,
[08:39] Fengming
    she had a strong will, and the ability
    to speak on even grounds with the prince.
[08:44] Fengming
    I had nothing but the deepest
    respect for Lady Ah-Duo.
[08:47] Fengming
    Compared to me, who just followed my
    parents' orders to become a lady-in-waiting,
[08:52] Fengming
    she was such an astonishing person.
[08:56] Fengming
    Despite that, I...
[08:58] Fengming
    I took what was most precious
    to her with my own hands...
[09:03] Fengming
    I took him away!
[09:05] Fengming
    The baby that Lady Ah-Duo loved so dearly!
[09:10] Fengming
    With these hands!
[09:12] Fengming
    Back then...
[09:14] Fengming
    Lady Ah-Duo told us this.
[09:17] (Flashback) Ah-Duo
    Do not blame yourselves for this.
[09:19] (Flashback) Ah-Duo
    Babies can die for any
     reason until they're seven.
[09:23] (Flashback) Ah-Duo
    Even the slightest illness
    can easily kill them.
[09:26] (Flashback) Ah-Duo
    My baby simply followed
    the will of the heavens.
[09:36] Fengming
    And yet, I knew she cried
    herself to sleep every night!
[09:50] Maomao
    What was her mental state like, as she served
    Lady Ah-Duo for the past sixteen years?
[09:55] Maomao
    Without having her own partner,
    sacrificing everything for Concubine Ah-Duo...
[10:01] Maomao
    I can't relate.
[10:03] Maomao
    I don't have it in my heart
    to keep someone so close.
[10:09] Maomao
    If he hears my story, Master Jinshi
    will surely apprehend Fengming.
[10:14] Maomao
    There's no way she'd
    escape capital punishment.
[10:18] Maomao
    She's a smart woman. She knows all of that.
[10:24] Maomao
    I have a suggestion.
[10:30] Maomao
    The only thing I can do is to take
    your two motives and make it one.
[10:35] Maomao
    It won't change the results.
[10:37] Maomao
    But if that's still preferable
    to you, please hear me out.
[10:53] Maomao
    So tired...
[10:55] Maomao
    A bath... No, it's too late for that.
[10:58] Maomao
    Guess I can at least get changed.
[11:02] Maomao
    I wore layers of stiffened
    oil paper, just in case.
[11:06] Maomao
    Glad I didn't need it.
[11:08] Maomao
    Getting slashed would hurt.
[11:13] Jinshi
    And so, Fengming turned herself in.
[11:17] Jinshi
    Do you know anything about it?
[11:19] Maomao
    What do you mean?
[11:20] Jinshi
    I heard you had Gaoshun
    collect some information.
[11:24] Maomao
    Yes. I'd hoped to figure something
    out, but it was all for naught.
[11:30] Jinshi
    Fengming's motive, as you said,
    was to try to make sure
[11:34] Jinshi
    Concubine Ah-Duo could stay in the
    position of one of the four concubines.
[11:38] Maomao
    I see.
[11:39] Jinshi
    But Concubine Ah-Duo has already been
    determined to leave the rear palace.
[11:44] Jinshi
    She'll live in the detached
    palace to the south.
[11:48] Maomao
    Does this incident have
    anything to do with that?
[11:51] Jinshi
    No, the decision was made a while ago.
[11:54] Jinshi
    It was the emperor's call.
[11:56] Maomao
    I see.
[11:59] Maomao
    This flower.
[12:01] Jinshi
    Hongniang came by earlier to put it on display.
[12:05] Maomao
    Yes, it's out of season.
[12:17] Jinshi
    It's sweet.
[12:18] Maomao
    Poisonous, though.
[12:21] Maomao
    It's not lethal. Don't worry.
[12:26] Maomao
    My suggestion to Fengming, back then...
[12:31] Maomao
    The poisoning of Concubine Lishu.
    The cause of death for the baby.
[12:34] Maomao
    If these two motives become one,
[12:37] Maomao
    she could hide the cause of the baby's
    death from Concubine Ah-Duo.
[12:42] Maomao
    Even if her own death is inevitable...
[12:45] Maomao
    That was the best I could do,
    as a girl with no power.
[13:04] Maomao
    I can't sleep.
[13:07] Maomao
    Maybe I'll take a walk.
[13:30] Maomao
    Fengming was executed.
[13:33] Maomao
    Concubine Ah-Duo is set to leave
    the rear palace tomorrow.
[13:37] Ah-Duo
    Oh, someone beat me here?
[13:42] Ah-Duo
    You're that girl who came
    to help clean the other day.
[13:46] Maomao
    I'll leave right away.
[13:48] Ah-Duo
    No.
[13:49] Ah-Duo
    Care to join me for a drink?
[13:52] Maomao
    Whoa! Booze!
[13:55] Maomao
    Thank you very much.
[14:06] Ah-Duo
    Pretty masculine, aren't I?
[14:08] Maomao
    I feel like you're giving
     that impression on purpose.
[14:13] Ah-Duo
    You're an honest one.
[14:16] Ah-Duo
    After my son left me, I became
    the emperor's friend, not his concubine.
[14:24] Ah-Duo
    Or rather, I returned to being his friend.
[14:29] Ah-Duo
    I never thought I'd become a concubine.
[14:34] Ah-Duo
    I was a concubine in name only,
    given the role out of pity.
[14:38] Ah-Duo
    I wanted to hand it off to someone
    else as soon as possible.
[14:42] Ah-Duo
    Why cling to it for so long...?
[14:45] Maomao
    She probably would have said the same
    things to whoever she'd met up here.
[14:56] Ah-Duo
    It must have been cold in that water.
[15:00] Ah-Duo
    It must have been painful.
[15:07] Maomao
    You're probably right.
[15:09] Ah-Duo
    Stupid, don't you think?
[15:13] Maomao
    Perhaps she was.
[15:16] Ah-Duo
    We're all stupid.
[15:25] Maomao
    Perhaps we are.
[15:36] Maomao
    I think I get it now.
[15:40] Maomao
    That servant was indeed a suicide.
[15:44] Maomao
    Concubine Ah-Duo noticed that.
[15:47] Maomao
    Maybe Fengming helped set it up.
[15:51] Maomao
    To take suspicion away from Concubine Ah-Duo,
[15:54] Maomao
    the servant chose to sink down
    into the cold water.
[15:57] Maomao
    To keep her secret hidden,
[15:59] Maomao
    Fengming chose to step up to the gallows.
[16:04] Maomao
    Regardless of Concubine
    Ah-Duo's own wishes,
[16:06] Maomao
    there are those who
    sacrifice their lives for her.
[16:11] Maomao
    I should go now, too.
[16:17] Jinshi
    What are you doing?
[16:23] Maomao
    Ow... Who's that? You startled me.
[16:25] Jinshi
    My bad.
[16:28] Maomao
    Master Jinshi? Why are you here?
[16:31] Jinshi
    I should ask the same of you.
[16:33] Maomao
    I'm sorry. I'll get up now—
[16:37] Maomao
    Could you let go?
[16:40] Maomao
    Let go, please.
[16:43] Jinshi
    Don't wanna. It's too cold.
[16:45] Maomao
    You'll catch a cold without a coat.
    Please go back to your room.
[16:50] Maomao
    Are you drunk?
[16:52] Jinshi
    I had to. I was sharing a drink with someone.
[16:54] Maomao
    Sharing, huh?
[16:57] Jinshi
    The host invited me to drink,
[16:59] Jinshi
    loaded me up full of booze,
[17:01] Jinshi
    then just took off.
[17:04] Jinshi
    When she finally came back,
[17:06] Jinshi
    she told me she was satisfied
     now, and threw me out.
[17:10] Maomao
    I didn't know anyone in this rear
    palace could treat this guy like that.
[17:15] Maomao
    But that's not related to this right now.
[17:19] Maomao
    I don't want to put up with a clingy drunk.
[17:22] Maomao
    Wait... Come to think of it,
    he did catch me as I fell.
[17:28] Maomao
    Maybe it's rude to just make him let go
    of me without even thanking him.
[17:33] Maomao
    Master Jinshi—
[17:45] Jinshi
    Just a little longer.
[17:47] Jinshi
    Keep me warm, just a little longer.
[18:07] Maomao
    Neither of them seem hungover.
[18:11] Maomao
    Concubine Ah-Duo, in order
    to leave the rear palace,
[18:13] Maomao
    returns the crown signifying
    her as Pure Concubine.
[18:16] Maomao
    That crown will be bestowed on another girl
    who will join the rear palace later.
[18:28] Maomao
    Ah, I see.
[18:30] Maomao
    I knew she resembled someone.
[18:33] Maomao
    It's Master Jinshi.
[18:36] Maomao
    Those two might as well swap outfits...
[18:41] Maomao
    Swap...
[18:43] (Flashback) Ah-Duo
    After my son left me...
[18:46] Maomao
    "Left me," she said. Not "died"?
[18:51] Maomao
    I can almost interpret that
    to mean he's still alive.
[18:54] Maomao
    Concubine Ah-Duo's child and
    the then-empress dowager's child...
[18:59] Maomao
    What if the two babies were swapped?
[19:03] Maomao
    It must have been clear to Concubine Ah-Duo,
    through her experience in childbirth.
[19:07] (Flashback) Luomen
    What are you doing?! I must
    tend to Concubine Ah-Duo...
[19:10] (Flashback) Eunuch
    The empress dowager takes priority!
[19:11] (Flashback) Fengming
    N-No!
[19:13] Maomao
    After all, she was just a nurse's daughter,
    a childhood friend of the prince.
[19:18] Maomao
    Her son would live a better life
    as the empress dowager's son.
[19:24] Maomao
    Maybe she wasn't in a state
    to decide what was right or wrong.
[19:29] Maomao
    But if the decision resulted
    in her son surviving...
[19:33] Maomao
    That would have been all that
    Concubine Ah-Duo could have wished for.
[19:37] Maomao
    What if people found out
    the babies were swapped later?
[19:41] Maomao
    If that was after the one baby had died,
[19:44] Maomao
    that would explain why my dad would be
    physically punished for not noticing.
[19:51] Maomao
    And if that were the case,
[19:53] Maomao
    it would explain why the emperor's younger
    brother is in a delicate position,
[19:57] Maomao
    and why Concubine Ah-Duo,
    who's supposed to be a realist,
[20:00] Maomao
    stayed in the rear palace for so long...
[20:06] Maomao
    Complete nonsense.
    An idiotic delusion of a story.
[20:09] Lishu
    Please, wait!
[20:10] Kanan
    Lady Lishu!
[20:15] Maomao
    As always.
[20:18] Maomao
    As a lonely concubine, to have
    a lady-in-waiting she can trust...
[20:24] Maomao
    How reassuring that must be.
[20:29] Kanan
    Lady Lishu!
[20:38] Maomao
    At that moment, her masculine, noble face
    suddenly took on the expression of a mother.
[20:52] Gaoshun
    Here is the list of Fengming's family
    and those connected to them.
[20:57] Jinshi
    I heard she was kidnapped and sold off, but...
SIGN    Jade Pavilion
    Maomao
[21:06] ED Lyrics
    Not just some superficial sweetness
[21:12] ED Lyrics
    I want more warmth than I can even use, oh
[21:18] ED Lyrics
    Having these selfish idealistic thoughts
[21:23] ED Lyrics
    I swallowed them again today
    before putting them into words
[21:28] ED Lyrics
    Still in my memories,
    the scent of fragrant olive
[21:33] ED Lyrics
    The color of twilight in the city
[21:36] ED Lyrics
    We were laughing...
[21:41] ED Lyrics
    Filled with sadness,
    the tears welled up in my eyes
[21:53] ED Lyrics
    I found a glow during those days
[22:01] ED Lyrics
    I guess I took everything for granted
[22:06] ED Lyrics
    The wind was so loud I covered my ears
[22:18] ED Lyrics
    I gotta stop being like that
[22:26] ED Lyrics
    Even if I stumble over the words of love
SIGN    Next Time
[22:46] Narrator
    Next time: "The Eunuch
    and the Courtesan."
SIGN    Episode 12: The Eunuch and the Courtesan

E12 - The Eunuch and the Courtesan

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    Jade Pavilion
    Maomao
[01:33] Jinshi
    What should I do...
[01:35] Gaoshun
    What should we do?
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
[01:39] Jinshi
    After Fengming's execution,
[01:41] Jinshi
    her family's assets were confiscated,
[01:44] Jinshi
    and all underwent varying degrees
    of corporal punishment.
[01:49] Jinshi
    Fengming was determined to
    be the sole perpetrator,
[01:52] Jinshi
    so fortunately, her mistress
    Concubine Ah-Duo was not blamed.
[01:58] Jinshi
    And now, here is the list of Fengming's family
    members and those connected to them.
[02:04] Gaoshun
    The list includes those
    who did business with them.
[02:08] Gaoshun
    They had many businesses
    in addition to apiculture.
[02:11] Gaoshun
    There are about eighty children of those
    families here in the rear palace.
[02:15] Jinshi
    Eighty out of two thousand, huh?
[02:18] Jinshi
    That's quite a hit ratio.
SIGN    Jade Pavilion
    Maomao
[02:24] Jinshi
    The family that the apothecary was kidnapped
    and sold off to was one such family.
[02:30] Gaoshun
    If you wish, we could conceal this.
[02:32] Jinshi
    If "I" wish...
[02:35] Jinshi
    Indeed.
[02:37] Jinshi
    It doesn't matter if it's right or wrong.
[02:40] Jinshi
    If I say so, it will be done.
[02:43] Jinshi
    Given how she likes to separate
    the commoners from the nobles,
[02:46] Jinshi
    she'd obey any order, no matter
    how much she disagrees.
[02:54] Jinshi
    It would be simple to give the order.
[02:56] Jinshi
    I should just simply give the order.
[02:59] Jinshi
    Conceal the facts, and keep
    her at the rear palace.
[03:03] Jinshi
    But if that goes against her will...
[03:08] Jinshi
    How would she feel, if she learned she'd been
    forced to stay in a place she disliked so?
[03:18] Jinshi
    I'm so afraid of the rift between
    the two of us widening any further.
[03:24] Gaoshun
    Master Jinshi.
[03:27] Gaoshun
    I thought she was just a convenient pawn.
[03:34] Maomao
    Mass layoffs?
[03:35] Xiaolan
    Yep.
SIGN    Episode 12: The Eunuch and the Courtesan
[03:37] Xiaolan
    The daughters of anyone who did business
     with that family are being let go.
[03:42] Xiaolan
    And it seems like there's quite a few of them.
[03:45] Maomao
    Huh...
[03:47] Xiaolan
    There are girls around who have to quit
    all of a sudden and are in a real bind.
[03:51] Xiaolan
    I guess that family really
    did a lot of business.
[03:55] Maomao
    I have a bad feeling about this.
[03:58] Maomao
    Getting fired now would be bad.
[04:01] Maomao
    It's just bad timing.
[04:02] Maomao
    After Lihaku, I haven't been able to send
    any more paying customers to the old lady.
[04:07] Maomao
    If I go back now...
[04:09] Maomao
    I'm home.
[04:11] Maomao
    You have a customer!
[04:14] Maomao
    She'll sell me off for sure!
[04:17] Xiaolan
    Maomao?!
[04:25] Maomao
    Last I checked, the family on my
    paperwork were merchants.
[04:40] Maomao
    If Fengming's family ran an apiary,
[04:43] Maomao
    there might be some sort of connection...
[05:30] Maomao
    Master Jinshi!
[05:42] Jinshi
    That's rare. You're out of breath.
[05:46] Maomao
    Uh...
[05:46] Jinshi
    Calm down. You're red all over.
[05:49] Maomao
    I would like to talk to you!
[05:52] Jinshi
    Sure. Let's speak inside.
[05:57] Jinshi
    This is about the mass layoffs, I take it?
[05:59] Maomao
    Yes. What's going to happen to me?
[06:03] Jinshi
    Here's the list.
SIGN    Jade
    Pavilion
    Maomao
[06:08] Maomao
    So, I'm being let go.
[06:12] Jinshi
    What do you want to do?
[06:18] (Flashback) Gaoshun
    I thought she was just a convenient pawn.
[06:26] Maomao
    As Lady Gyokuyou's lady-in-waiting,
[06:28] Maomao
    I can test for poisons and
    hang out in the medical office.
[06:31] Maomao
    I have to admit I'm enjoying my current life.
[06:35] Maomao
    But I'm just a servant, after all.
[06:38] Maomao
    I'm in no position to request to stay.
[06:43] Maomao
    I have to make sure
    I don't appear like I'm begging.
[06:47] Maomao
    I am a mere servant.
[06:49] Maomao
    I'll do as you order, whether it be
    manual labor, cooking, or tasting.
[06:57] Jinshi
    As I order...
[06:59] Maomao
    Yes. I'll do my best, if ordered to do so.
[07:03] Maomao
    If I take a pay cut, so be it.
[07:06] Maomao
    As long as I can buy time before getting
    sold off, I'll figure something out.
[07:12] Maomao
    So please, don't fire me!
[07:18] Jinshi
    Understood.
[07:19] Maomao
    Do you mean...
[07:21] Jinshi
    I'll make sure you're compensated.
[07:25] Maomao
    Huh?
[07:26] Narrator
    Negotiation failed. Maomao is let go.
[07:32] Maomao
    There we go.
[07:42] Gaoshun
    How long are you going to stay like that?
[07:46] Gaoshun
    Perhaps you should have
     ordered her to stay.
[07:49] Jinshi
    Not another word.
[07:53] Gaoshun
    A week after being fired,
[07:55] Gaoshun
    Xiaomao went home to the pleasure district.
[07:59] Gaoshun
    I heard she politely went around
[08:01] Gaoshun
    saying her farewells to every single
    place she had business with.
[08:06] (Flashback) Gyokuyou
    You're going to regret this.
[08:09] Gaoshun
    Finding a new toy to replace his favorite
    one has always been a challenge.
[08:15] (Flashback) Young Jinshi
    No! I want that one!
[08:19] Gaoshun
    Or perhaps...
[08:21] Gaoshun
    That girl should not be treated
    as the same as a toy.
[08:25] Gaoshun
    He only let her go because
    he didn't want to treat her as a tool.
[08:30] Gaoshun
    What a troublesome master he is.
[08:34] Gaoshun
    If finding a replacement won't do...
[08:36] Gaoshun
    Perhaps I can speak to that military officer.
[08:40] Jinshi
    Wah, wah, boo-hoo, sob, sob...
[08:50] Meimei
    You do look much better without your freckles.
[08:53] Pairin
    You can use my lipstick.
[08:56] Joka
    I never thought I'd be going
    to a party with Maomao.
[09:00] Maomao
    My workplace tonight is a noble's
    party outside the brothel.
[09:05] Maomao
    Calling a courtesan to one's
    own mansion costs quite a sum.
[09:08] Maomao
    In addition...
[09:10] Maomao
    A night of drinks with one of
    the Verdigris House's Princesses
[09:12] Maomao
    costs what most make in a year.
[09:14] Maomao
    So to call on all three at once...
[09:18] Maomao
    I guess there's no limit to
    how rich a rich person can be.
[09:21] Maomao
    I'm going with you, but just
    so you look better by comparison.
[09:26] Meimei
    Here you go, Maomao.
[09:28] Maomao
    Because I was paid more than
    expected when leaving the rear palace,
[09:32] Maomao
    I was able to avoid getting
    sold off immediately.
[09:36] Joka
    That's an important job, too.
[09:39] Meimei
    Looking forward to it, Maomao.
[09:41] Pairin
    Oh! So cute.
[09:43] Old Lady
    It's time! Hurry up! Hmm?
[09:49] Old Lady
    Well, well, that's not bad at all.
[09:52] Old Lady
    You could take on customers
     of your own too, you know.
[09:57] Maomao
    The old lady really wants me
    to become a courtesan.
[10:03] Old Lady
    Go make a fortune!
[10:05] Maomao
    I can't recite poetry or play the erhu.
[10:08] Maomao
    Dancing is out of the question.
[10:10] Maomao
    I'm just an apothecary's daughter,
    with no interest outside of medicine.
[10:14] Maomao
    So why is she so insistent,
    especially these past few years?
[10:38] Maomao
    This person sure is loaded.
[10:42] Maomao
    Every piece of furniture is
    unimaginably expensive.
[10:45] Maomao
    I'm sure they wouldn't notice
    one thing taken as a souvenir...
[10:48] Maomao
    No! Knock it off.
[10:50] Guide
    This room, please.
[11:01] Maomao
    I heard Master Lihaku introduced us
    to these high-ranking palace officials.
[11:05] Maomao
    They're younger than I expected.
[11:07] Pairin
    Yum.
[11:09] Meimei
    Come, let's go.
[11:14] Maomao
    If he knows so many rich people, he should
    have introduced them to me sooner.
[11:19] Maomao
    With his connections, I could
    have lessened my loan amount.
[11:24] Maomao
    Anyway, off to work.
[12:25] Maomao
    Work is work, but staying
    all smiles is quite an ordeal.
[12:29] Maomao
    Hmm? Is he bored?
[12:33] Maomao
    Excuse me.
[12:34] Jinshi
    Leave me alone.
[12:37] Jinshi
    I want to be alone.
[12:39] Maomao
    Huh? Where have I heard this voice before?
[12:49] Maomao
    Master Jinshi?
[12:53] Jinshi
    Why avoid me?
[12:54] Maomao
    Please don't touch the courtesans.
[12:56] Jinshi
    Do people tell you that makeup
     changes you considerably?
[13:00] Maomao
    I do get that a lot.
[13:02] Jinshi
    Besides, why are you dressed like that?
[13:04] Maomao
    I'm working part-time.
[13:06] Jinshi
    As a courtesan?
[13:08] Maomao
    Yes.
[13:09] Jinshi
    Does that mean you're...
[13:11] Maomao
    This guy is really prone to
    casting doubt on my chastity.
[13:15] Maomao
    I don't take personal customers.
[13:19] Maomao
    Yet.
[13:20] Jinshi
    "Yet..."
[13:22] Jinshi
    So, what if I bought you out?
[13:25] Maomao
    Huh? What kind of joke is—
[13:29] Maomao
    That might be a good idea.
[13:32] Maomao
    Working in the rear palace again
    wouldn't be too bad.
[13:38] Jinshi
    I thought you quit
    because you hated it there.
[13:40] Maomao
    Huh? When did I ever say that?
[13:44] Maomao
    I tried convincing you to let me stay,
    but you fired me anyway.
[13:48] Maomao
    True, there was a lot of trouble.
[13:51] Maomao
    But where else would I be able
    to perform as a taster?
[13:55] Maomao
    The only thing I missed
    were my poison experiments.
[14:02] Jinshi
    You should really stop
    experimenting with poison.
[14:05] Maomao
    He's even more childish today than before.
[14:09] Jinshi
    That's right. That's the kind
    of person you are.
[14:12] Maomao
    What does that mean?
[14:13] Jinshi
    Do people ever say that you
     don't express yourself clearly?
[14:16] Maomao
    I do get that a lot.
[14:21] Jinshi
    So why flinch?
[14:23] Maomao
    Rules are rules.
[14:24] Jinshi
    Can't you bend them a bit?
[14:26] Maomao
    No.
[14:26] Jinshi
    It's not the end of the world.
[14:28] Maomao
    It's ending my spirit.
[14:29] Jinshi
    Just one hand. Just the tip of my fingers.
[14:32] Maomao
    That's right, this guy
    can be really persistent.
[14:37] Maomao
    Fine, just the fingers.
[14:52] Maomao
    This guy!
[14:54] Maomao
    The color sticks!
[14:57] Meimei
    Goodness, what's this?
[14:59] Pairin
    Oh, Maomao.
[15:00] Joka
    I can't watch.
[15:01] Maomao
    Come on, big sisters!
[15:03] Maomao
    Master Gaoshun?! What? Huh?!
[15:07] Maomao
    I couldn't make sense of any of it.
[15:09] Maomao
    I don't remember much of
    what happened after that.
[15:12] Joka
    So, who was that?
[15:13] Meimei
    How do you know him?
[15:15] Pairin
    Not bad, you!
[15:16] Maomao
    I do remember that it was really hard
    answering all my big sisters' questions.
SIGN    Verdigris House
[15:27] Maomao
    And...
[15:28] Maomao
    I should make some, just in case.
[15:30] Maomao
    Wandering around without
    my freckles leads to no good.
[15:34] Maomao
    That was winter last year...
[15:40] Maomao
    Getting kidnapped was enough of a surprise,
[15:42] Maomao
    but to be sold off
    to the rear palace, of all places...
[15:47] Maomao
    Then to get promoted to a lady-in-waiting.
[15:54] Maomao
    I wanted to lay low until
    my term was over, but...
[15:58] Old Lady
    Maomao. Is it ready?
[16:01] Maomao
    Yeah, here.
[16:04] Old Lady
    I need you to take a look at
     someone. Can you come with me?
[16:07] Maomao
    Got it.
[16:22] Maomao
    The rear palace, huh?
[16:24] Maomao
    I really wanted to avoid
    that place at all costs.
[16:32] Maomao
    I wonder if everyone's okay.
[16:39] Maomao
    Oh, I'll get out.
[16:41] Old Lady
    Take your time. You don't get to
    come here all the time.
[16:45] Maomao
    Yeah.
[16:51] Old Lady
    What are you going to do from now on?
[16:54] Maomao
    I'll pay back my loans, I promise.
[16:55] Old Lady
    That's a given!
[16:59] Old Lady
    Are you going back to the rear palace?
[17:03] Maomao
    I don't know.
[17:06] Maomao
    But... the rear palace and
    the brothels are pretty similar.
[17:11] Old Lady
    Hmm.
[17:25] Luomen
    Having trouble sleeping?
[17:28] Maomao
    I'm going to go get some air.
[17:30] Luomen
    Take care.
[17:32] Maomao
    I will.
[18:04] Maomao
    The rear palace and
    the brothels are no different.
[18:08] Maomao
    A garden, and a cage.
[20:16] Maomao
    What's going to happen from now on?
[20:26] Maomao
    It's freezing.
SIGN    Verdigris House
[20:32] Narrator
    A few days later, a beautiful noble
    comes to the pleasure district.
[20:41] Narrator
    With him, he brings enough cash
    to make the old lady's eyes glisten,
[20:44] Narrator
    and for some reason...
[20:49] Narrator
    A strange herb growing from an insect...
[20:57] Narrator
    And in exchange, he asks for a certain girl.
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    Next Time
[22:46] Narrator
    Next time: "Serving in
    the Outer Court."
SIGN    Episode 13: Serving in the Outer Court

E13 - Serving in the Outer Court

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
[00:15] Jinshi
    Are you serious?
[00:18] Emperor
    So, what would you do?
[00:20] Emperor
    After all, you're the gardener
    maintaining my flower garden.
[00:28] Jinshi
    He truly is cunning.
[00:35] Jinshi
    How ironic.
[00:38] Jinshi
    No matter how hard I try,
    both in intellect and martial arts,
[00:41] Jinshi
    I can only slightly
    outperform a regular person.
[00:44] Jinshi
    Instead, I am granted an appearance
    more beautiful than anyone.
[00:51] Jinshi
    The things I truly want
    are so far out of reach.
[00:59] Jinshi
    I was dissatisfied at first,
    but I've gotten over it.
[01:03] Jinshi
    My sweet gaze, my sweet voice...
[01:07] Jinshi
    I'll use my superior tools to my advantage.
[01:13] Jinshi
    I'm aware that ultimately, I'm just a child
    floundering on the emperor's palm.
[01:20] Jinshi
    As you wish.
[01:22] Jinshi
    I'll manage his rear palace,
    or whatever else he wants.
[01:27] Jinshi
    That's the only way I can choose my own path.
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    Verdigris House
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
[03:06] Maomao
    I don't need this much, Big Sis.
[03:08] Meimei
    Sure, sure. Take this, this... Oh! And this, too.
SIGN    Episode 13: Serving in the Outer Court
[03:13] Maomao
    I'm not going to be using lipstick.
[03:15] Meimei
    What do you mean? Can't you put in
    the least bit of effort to look proper?
[03:19] Maomao
    Only courtesans have to get
     prettied up to go to work.
[03:25] Maomao
    I want to work with herbs...
[03:27] Maomao
    Ow!
[03:28] Meimei
    You've landed such a nice job at the palace!
[03:33] Meimei
    And you're telling me you can't dress up
    appropriately for the position?
[03:37] Meimei
    You have to be thankful
    for that every day.
[03:39] Meimei
    Otherwise, you'll lose your great customers.
[03:42] Maomao
    Meimei is really convincing.
[03:46] Maomao
    She's old enough to start considering
    retirement as a courtesan,
[03:49] Maomao
    but her popularity hasn't waned at all,
[03:52] Maomao
    because she has the intellect
[03:54] Maomao
    to entertain her customers
    through song, chess, and go.
[03:57] Joka
    Maomao.
[03:59] Pairin
    Wow, what a huge package.
[04:00] Maomao
    Pairin, Joka.
[04:09] Joka
    I'm glad you found a good
    workplace. Go make a fortune.
[04:15] Maomao
    Got it.
[04:17] Meimei
    If you could bring back some paying
    customers, that would be great too!
[04:20] Joka
    Find some good, rich guys.
[04:23] Pairin
    Someone with vigor, pretty please!
[04:26] Maomao
    Uh, yeah...
SIGN    Verdigris House
SIGN    Verdigris House
[04:32] Maomao
    My new workplace... Or should I say,
    the workplace I'm returning to,
[04:36] Maomao
    is the area in the palace
    called the rear palace.
[04:40] Maomao
    It's a garden of women who are there
    to have children for the emperor.
[04:43] Maomao
    I was supposed to work here
    as a lowly servant girl, but...
SIGN    You with the freckles, stay here
[04:46] Maomao
    I solved the mystery of the dying
    infant heirs, which drew attention.
[04:50] Maomao
    I was promoted to lady-in-waiting
    for Lady Gyokuyou,
[04:52] Maomao
    then got sucked into various
    troubles as a food taster.
[04:57] Maomao
    After that, a bunch of stuff happened,
    leading to me getting fired.
[05:00] Maomao
    Who would've thought I'd be back again?
[05:06] Maomao
    I succumbed to the allure
    of the caterpillar fungus,
[05:09] Maomao
    but looking back, that might
    have been careless of me.
[05:12] Maomao
    Of course, seen from the outside,
    it's a huge lucky break.
[05:16] Maomao
    I do have some reservations about leaving
    my dad behind to go live elsewhere for work,
[05:20] Maomao
    but the rules are a lot less strict this time,
[05:23] Maomao
    and I'm not treated as missing anymore.
[05:26] Maomao
    Dad also said I should do as I like, but...
[05:34] Maomao
    What did he mean by that, I wonder?
[05:38] Maomao
    I'm home.
[05:44] Luomen
    They loaded you up, didn't they?
[05:46] Maomao
    What should I do? I definitely need
    my mortar and pestle, and my notebook.
[05:52] Maomao
    I can't bring less underwear—
[05:55] Luomen
    Maomao, you probably can't take those with you.
[05:59] Maomao
    Huh?
[06:00] Luomen
    You're not a doctor.
[06:01] Luomen
    Having such things would make you appear
    like you're plotting a poisoning.
[06:09] Luomen
    Come now, don't make that face.
    It was your decision to go.
[06:13] Luomen
    You can't back out now.
[06:16] Maomao
    Really?
[06:17] Luomen
    You should be able to gradually get
    permission to bring more things in.
[06:21] Luomen
    Get ready and go to sleep.
    Tomorrow is your first day.
[06:26] Maomao
    Fine...
[06:40] Luomen
    Well, you haven't done this in a while.
[06:44] Luomen
    I thought you weren't a baby anymore.
[06:47] Maomao
    Well, it's cold.
[06:51] Luomen
    We'll be lonely again.
[06:53] Maomao
    Not really. This time,
    I can come back any time I want.
[07:01] Luomen
    You're right. You can come
    home any time you want.
[07:07] Maomao
    I have no mother.
[07:09] Maomao
    But I have a caring dad, a nosy old granny,
[07:13] Maomao
    and a lively group of big sisters
    to keep me company.
[07:18] Maomao
    I can come home any time.
[07:27] Maomao
    Thank you for waiting, Master Jinshi.
[07:40] Meimei
    Please take care of our little girl.
[07:43] Pairin
    We got her all dolled up for you.
[07:46] Old Lady
    Don't you forget, Maomao.
[07:49] Maomao
    I know. Good customers, right?
[07:52] Old Lady
    Good. Now go on.
[07:54] Maomao
    What a way to start the morning.
[07:58] Maomao
    Let's go.
[08:01] Jinshi
    Uh, yeah.
[08:02] Joka
    Take care.
[08:05] Maomao
    I'm off.
[08:07] Onlooker A
    She's pretty.
[08:08] Onlooker B
    Have you ever seen her at
     the Verdigris House before?
[08:15] Maomao
    This is your fault, Master Jinshi.
[08:17] Jinshi
    Hmm?
[08:18] Maomao
    I got a lot of unwanted attention.
[08:20] Jinshi
    That's because you're...
[08:28] Maomao
    What is it?
[08:29] Jinshi
    Nothing.
[08:49] Jinshi
    Good work. May we proceed?
[08:51] Guard A
    Yes!
[08:55] Jinshi
    Apothecary. While you're here,
    go back to your usual freckled face.
[08:59] Maomao
    Huh?
[09:01] Maomao
    Understood.
[09:13] Coworker A
    Hey, I heard the manager of the rear palace
[09:16] Coworker A
    bought out a courtesan
    from the Verdigris House.
[09:18] Coworker B
    The Verdigris House? Is that where
    the famous Three Princesses are?
[09:22] Lakan
    The Verdigris House?
[09:29] Maomao
    What is this guy doing?
[09:34] Maomao
    And this is?
[09:36] Jinshi
    My house.
[09:38] Maomao
    Huh?! Why?!
[09:40] Jinshi
    This is your new workplace.
[09:44] Maomao
    Master Gaoshun, I was under the impression
    we were returning to the rear palace...
[09:49] Gaoshun
    We fired you once already, so we can't
    just put you back in the same position.
[09:53] Gaoshun
    You will be working in the outer court now.
[09:56] Maomao
    The outer court...
[09:58] Gaoshun
    Yes. The rear palace is
    considered the inner court.
[10:01] Gaoshun
    The outer court lies outside of that.
[10:04] Gaoshun
    There are many public offices there.
    I'll show you around later.
[10:09] Suiren
    Welcome home. It must have been cold.
[10:19] Suiren
    I am Suiren, his attendant.
    You must be Xiaomao.
[10:24] Maomao
    Y-Yes.
[10:27] Maomao
    Xiaomao?
[10:33] Suiren
    There are two separate buildings,
[10:35] Suiren
    one with the office and one
    with the personal residence.
[10:38] Suiren
    The area ahead is the young
     master's room, but...
[10:42] Maomao
    "Young master?"
[10:44] Suiren
    You should be all right.
[10:48] Maomao
    This room's about the same size as
    the one I used at the Jade Pavilion.
[10:51] Maomao
    If this place had a stove and a nearby well...
[10:55] Maomao
    Still, this place seems too well-built
    for a servant girl's quarters.
[10:59] Suiren
    Xiaomao?
[11:01] Maomao
    Yes.
[11:02] Jinshi
    I don't intend to make you do servant labor.
[11:06] Maomao
    Huh?
[11:07] Jinshi
    I told you, you're going to
    work in the outer court.
[11:18] Jinshi
    You're going to take the court lady exam.
[11:21] Maomao
    C-Court lady exam?!
[11:38] Maomao
    A cotton garment? That's generous.
[11:53] Maomao
    Good morning, Lady Suiren.
[11:55] Suiren
    Oh, good morning, Xiaomao.
    It's good that you wake up early.
[12:00] Maomao
    I'll help.
[12:01] Suiren
    It's fine, I'm almost done.
[12:04] Suiren
    Can you just help serve?
[12:06] Maomao
    Yes. Um, where are the other attendants?
[12:10] Suiren
    There are none.
[12:12] Suiren
    The office side is fine, but I couldn't let
    anyone handle the personal side.
[12:17] Suiren
    The young master's food is
     especially out of the question.
[12:21] Maomao
    So, you do all of this work by yourself?
[12:24] Suiren
    We had some new girls a few times,
[12:27] Suiren
    but well, things happen, and they don't last.
[12:31] Maomao
    Did they lace his food with aphrodisiacs?
[12:33] Maomao
    Or try to steal things?
[12:35] Suiren
    I mean, who likes finding
    unfamiliar underwear in their closet?
[12:40] Maomao
    Huh?
[12:42] Suiren
    On top of that, it was made of hair.
[12:46] Maomao
    That sounds like a lot.
[12:48] Suiren
    Yes, it certainly was.
[12:51] Suiren
    Come, young master, please wake up.
[12:53] Suiren
    It's time for breakfast.
[13:03] Maomao
    So much wasted sex appeal...
[13:06] Maomao
    I can see why only Master Gaoshun
    and Lady Suiren enter this room.
[13:11] Maomao
    A woman who saw this would lose herself easily.
[13:14] Maomao
    A man would pounce on him right away.
[13:17] Maomao
    He truly has a sin-inducing air about him.
[13:21] Maomao
    Sort of like an insect in mating season.
[13:24] Maomao
    I wonder if I could collect this eunuch's
    scent and sell it as an aphrodisiac?
[13:30] Jinshi
    If you want, I can get you a new room.
[13:34] Maomao
    What brings this about?
[13:36] Maomao
    I don't get it, but is this my chance
    to get a stove and well?!
[13:43] Maomao
    He needs to tell me clearly
    if he wants me to understand.
[13:46] Maomao
    I can manage the stove somehow,
    so for starters...
[13:52] Maomao
    In that case, how about
     a stable with a well nearby?
[13:57] Jinshi
    A stable.
[13:59] Maomao
    Yes, a stable.
[14:03] Jinshi
    No stables.
[14:10] Gaoshun
    So, shall we?
[14:12] Maomao
    Yes, please.
[14:15] Maomao
    Master Jinshi got left behind.
[14:19] Maomao
    I assumed he had nothing to do, since
    he was always loitering in the rear palace,
[14:22] Maomao
    but he's actually pretty busy.
[14:25] Gaoshun
    There are many military officers
    on the east side of this area,
[14:30] Gaoshun
    so please stay away if possible.
[14:33] Maomao
    Understood.
[14:35] Maomao
    The palace he showed me around was huge.
[14:37] Maomao
    I needed more than all my fingers and toes
[14:39] Maomao
    to count all the named buildings
    and departments.
[14:42] Maomao
    Can I learn them all?
[14:45] Maomao
    My ability to learn about things
    I'm not interested in is below average.
[14:53] Gaoshun
    This is the Director of Waters.
[14:55] Gaoshun
    It's the department in charge of rivers,
    dams, and water utilization projects.
[14:59] Maomao
    I see.
[15:02] Maomao
    The rear palace had more medicinal ingredients.
[15:07] Maomao
    My dad must have planted them
    while he worked there.
[15:11] Gaoshun
    Xiaomao, when you become a court lady,
    the outer court will be your workplace.
[15:15] Maomao
    Yes.
[15:17] Maomao
    Court lady, huh?
[15:28] Suiren
    Oh, good timing, Xiaomao.
[15:30] Suiren
    Can you take this charcoal to the office?
[15:33] Maomao
    Yes.
[15:38] Maomao
    Excuse me.
[15:46] Maomao
    So, this is Master Jinshi's office.
[15:50] Maomao
    It's not extravagant,
    but everything here is top class.
[15:53] Maomao
    How high up is our young master?
[16:02] Maomao
    Sizing up the new girl? Not a good atmosphere.
[16:09] Maomao
    The court ladies of the outer court
    are like secretaries.
[16:13] Maomao
    They have the right qualifications,
    background, and education.
[16:17] Maomao
    They're nothing like the hodgepodge
    of female officials at the rear palace.
[16:20] Maomao
    Which explains their high self-esteem...
[16:25] Maomao
    Hmm?
[16:28] Maomao
    And therefore, they won't go out of their
    way to clean, since that's not their job.
[16:35] Court Lady A
    Just who do you think you are?
[16:39] Maomao
    I guess they grow well when they're fed well.
[16:43] Court Lady A
    Are you listening?!
[16:44] Court Lady A
    Why is someone like you assigned
    directly to Master Jinshi?!
[16:50] Maomao
    I guess staying quiet would irritate them more.
[16:55] Maomao
    In other words, you're all jealous of me?
[17:01] Court Lady A
    Watch your mouth!
[17:03] Maomao
    Wrong choice of words.
[17:06] Maomao
    Fine, then.
[17:08] Maomao
    Are you implying I'm getting
     special treatment?
[17:12] Maomao
    There's no way that could be right.
[17:15] Maomao
    Why would he, a heavenly maiden
    of a person, fall for an ugly girl like me?
[17:22] Maomao
    Does the noble figure in your
    mind have such bad taste?
[17:27] Maomao
    Would he go out of his way
    to eat meatless chicken bones,
[17:30] Maomao
    when there are heaps of delicious abalones
    and boar meat in front of him?
[17:34] Maomao
    If that's the case, well, he must
    have some interesting proclivities.
[17:39] Maomao
    I don't really get it myself,
    but does he truly have "special tastes"?
[17:44] Maomao
    I see, so it's a "special taste"—
[17:45] Court Lady A
    T-That's impossible!
[17:47] Court Lady B
    R-Right!
[17:48] Suirei
    Why did he hire you, then?
[17:56] Maomao
    This is the reason.
[18:04] Maomao
    I just tried out some burn
    medicine the other day,
[18:07] Maomao
    so it's really messed up right now.
[18:09] Maomao
    Stings!
[18:11] Maomao
    That heavenly maiden
    has a heavenly heart, too.
[18:16] Maomao
    He gives a person like me
    a way to make a living.
[18:22] Court Lady A
    Let's go.
[18:32] Maomao
    Done and done.
[18:34] Jinshi
    "Interesting proclivities..."
[18:37] Jinshi
    Do you get harassed like that a lot?
[18:41] Jinshi
    Besides, why are you raising your left arm—
[18:44] Maomao
    I'm off to my next cleaning duty.
[18:47] Jinshi
    Are you studying?
[18:49] Maomao
    Sneak, sneak.
[18:51] Jinshi
    Hey!
[18:52] Maomao
    Sneak, sneak!
[19:13] Suiren
    Xiaomao.
[19:16] Suiren
    Please be quiet.
[19:25] Narrator
    And thus, the day of the exams came.
[19:31] Jinshi
    Why did you fail?
[19:34] Maomao
    Why did you think I'd pass?
[19:37] Narrator
    Maomao became Jinshi's personal servant.
[19:42] Gaoshun
    What should we do?
[19:44] Suiren
    What should we do, indeed?
[20:17] Maomao
    Ow!
[20:20] Suirei
    There shouldn't be any reason
    for you to go beyond this point.
[20:24] Maomao
    Could you say that before you hit me?
[20:28] Maomao
    The scent of sandalwood, mixed
    with another, distinctly bitter smell.
[20:44] Maomao
    The military, huh?
SIGN    Next Time
[22:46] Narrator
    Next time: "The New
    Pure Consort."
SIGN    Episode 14: The New Pure Consort
SIGN    

E14 - The New Pure Consort

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
SIGN    Episode 14: The New Pure Consort
[03:07] Hongniang
    Are you serious?
[03:09] Gyokuyou
    Of course.
[03:10] Gyokuyou
    Maomao's back. I have to make
    the best of that situation.
[03:18] Maomao
    That should do for now.
[03:20] Maomao
    Unlike the rear palace, there are barely
    any herbs growing in the outer court.
[03:25] Maomao
    I need to work on fixing that.
[03:27] Suiren
    Xiaomao.
[03:28] Suiren
    I thought I asked you to clean the office.
[03:32] Maomao
    Right away!
[03:35] Suiren
    Don't spend too much time on gardening.
[03:39] Maomao
    She's tough.
[03:41] Jinshi
    What's going on?
[03:42] Gaoshun
    I have no idea.
SIGN    Crystal Pavilion
     Wise Consort
     Lihua
SIGN    Jade Pavilion
     Precious Consort
     Gyokuyou
[03:44] Jinshi
    Hmm.
[03:47] Maomao
    Excuse me.
[03:50] Maomao
    Hmm?
[03:56] Jinshi
    Do you know about the new Pure Consort
    who just entered the Garnet Pavilion?
[04:00] Maomao
    Yes.
[04:01] Maomao
    The replacement for
    Concubine Ah-Duo, who left.
[04:07] Jinshi
    Well, the rear palace wants
     to educate the concubine.
[04:12] Jinshi
    And for some reason, they want
     you to be the teacher.
SIGN    Teacher
    Maomao
[04:17] Maomao
    Hah, that's a funny joke.
[04:19] Jinshi
    Nobody's joking. Look who recommended you.
[04:24] Maomao
    Recommended?
SIGN    Precious Consort
    Gyokuyou
[04:27] Jinshi
    And here's another.
SIGN    Wise Consort
    Lihua
[04:32] Maomao
    Lady Lihua, too?
[04:34] Maomao
    Oh...
[04:38] Maomao
    It was that, huh?
[04:39] Jinshi
    I'm counting on you.
[04:47] Maomao
    I can't ignore a request from two concubines.
[04:52] Maomao
    They were nice enough to clearly
    write the payment amount.
[04:56] Maomao
    Our old lady is surely
    hiking up that price, though.
[05:05] Maomao
    Now's my chance...
[05:08] Jinshi
    This is all teaching
    material for your class?
[05:11] Maomao
    Yes. And here's the invoice.
[05:15] Jinshi
    This seems about right.
[05:18] Suiren
    I wonder why the ink is
     a different color here.
[05:21] Maomao
    Yikes!
[05:23] Maomao
    She really is tough.
[05:24] Maomao
    I guess I can't prey on our young master
    while this old maid is around.
[05:28] Jinshi
    What's inside?
[05:31] Maomao
    I can't let him see my
    precious teaching material.
[05:35] Jinshi
    F-Fine, I won't look.
[05:38] Gaoshun
    Do you need help carrying it?
[05:41] Maomao
    I'm fine.
[05:42] Maomao
    If I have to do it, I'm going all the way.
[05:48] Maomao
    It's been a while.
[05:51] Maomao
    It's relaxing, this weird girly atmosphere.
[05:53] Mid-Level Concubine 1
    It's Master Jinshi!
[05:54] Mid-Level Concubine 2
    He's so beautiful as always.
[06:01] Maomao
    This is quite a crowd.
[06:03] Jinshi
    They must have heard
    the rumors about the lesson.
[06:09] Jinshi
    Just so you're all aware, only the high-ranking
    concubines will be attending today.
[06:13] Jinshi
    If you have no other business, you may leave.
[06:20] Maomao
    Is this eunuch some
    sort of mythical monster?
[06:36] Maomao
    No!
[06:38] Jinshi
    Why?
[06:39] Maomao
    Only the high-ranking concubines will
    attend the lesson. You said so yourself.
[06:44] Maomao
    Dammit, he's built tougher than he looks.
[06:47] Maomao
    What we'll discuss is a secret
    technique for women only!
[06:59] Maomao
    Lady Gyokuyou.
[07:01] Maomao
    Beautiful, as always.
[07:02] Maomao
    Seems like Lady Hongniang
    hasn't changed, either.
[07:06] Maomao
    Lady Lishu seems very nervous.
[07:08] Maomao
    I guess it's natural, seeing how there are
    three other high-ranking concubines here.
[07:13] Maomao
    As long as that taster is with her,
    she should be better off than before.
[07:17] Maomao
    Lady Lihua seems to have recovered
    fully to her healthy, voluptuous form.
[07:23] Maomao
    Hmm? Is that the lady-in-waiting
    from the face powder incident...?
[07:27] Maomao
    She doesn't have to be so wary of me.
[07:30] Maomao
    And Concubine Ah-Duo's replacement,
[07:33] Maomao
    the new Pure Consort, Concubine Loulan.
[07:36] Maomao
    Is that flashy southern
    outfit her usual style?
[07:39] Maomao
    Her face seems northern, but I can't tell
    what she really looks like under all that.
[07:47] Maomao
    Given her age, the emperor
    will most likely spend time with her.
[07:51] Maomao
    It seems the power balance at the rear
    palace shouldn't be negatively affected.
[07:56] Maomao
    Eh. Who cares.
[08:00] Maomao
    My name is Maomao. I will be
     serving as your instructor today.
[08:06] Maomao
    What I will be teaching you today
[08:09] Maomao
    is a secret technique
    shared only amongst women.
[08:12] Maomao
    Please do not share it with others.
[08:16] Maomao
    Now, here are the learning materials.
[08:31] Gyokuyou
    Wow!
[08:42] Lishu
    Oh... Oh...
[09:09] Gaoshun
    What's going on in there?
[09:12] Jinshi
    I can't tell.
[09:14] Maomao
    Phew. Hmm?
[09:18] Jinshi
    Good work. That took a while.
[09:20] Maomao
    This guy was eavesdropping for sure.
[09:24] Maomao
    What's wrong?
[09:27] Jinshi
    What's going on here?
[09:30] Gyokuyou
    Goodbye, tired routines!
[09:32] Lihua
    Do this, then this...
[09:34] Lishu
    No way. No way, ever...
[09:37] Kanan
    Lady Lishu!
[09:42] Maomao
    I just taught them, as ordered.
[09:46] Maomao
    At least I made the two who
    recommended me happy.
[09:57] Maomao
    I couldn't tell what she was thinking at all.
[10:07] Maomao
    Use the knowledge as you see fit.
[10:09] Jinshi
    Hey, what kind of lecture did you give?
[10:11] Maomao
    You can ask the emperor later
    if he liked it or not.
[10:15] Jinshi
    Hey.
[10:32] Maomao
    I'm spent.
[10:37] Maomao
    Looking forward to that bonus reward!
[10:49] Soldier
    This way!
[11:00] Maomao
    I'll stay out of it.
[11:01] Maomao
    So cold...
[11:09] Rikuson
    Master Lakan! Master Lakan!
[11:21] Rikuson
    Master Lakan, there you are.
[11:25] Lakan
    Hmm.
[11:27] Rikuson
    Something of interest?
[11:29] Lakan
    No, nothing at all.
[11:42] Maomao
    I wonder what that sound was last night.
[11:47] Maomao
    Even though he's a eunuch, he has work
    outside of the rear palace as well?
[11:53] Maomao
    It's not like he can just ignore silly bills.
[12:01] Maomao
    It's good paper. I could sell these
    for a pretty good amount.
[12:04] Maomao
    What a waste, burning it all.
[12:07] Maomao
    The trash burning place is over
    by the military offices...
[12:11] Gaoshun
    Xiaomao.
[12:14] Gaoshun
    It's cold outside.
[12:18] Maomao
    Thank you.
[12:20] Maomao
    He's so thoughtful. Shame he's a eunuch.
[12:28] Gaoshun
    This is from Master Jinshi!
    I merely delivered it!
[12:35] Maomao
    I see.
[12:36] Maomao
    He needs permission just to give warm
    clothes to a servant? What a bother.
[12:41] Maomao
    Thank you, Master Jinshi.
[12:45] Jinshi
    Don't worry about it.
[12:53] Maomao
    The outer court is several times
    larger than the rear palace,
[12:57] Maomao
    yet I see hardly any medicinal herbs growing.
[13:00] Maomao
    I guess the only notable ones
    are dandelions and mugworts,
[13:03] Maomao
    which are abundant anywhere.
[13:07] Maomao
    It's winter, so they're hard to spot, too.
[13:09] Maomao
    Maybe I'll plant some seeds
    around here as well.
[13:14] Maomao
    Ooh, red spider lily!
[13:15] Maomao
    Here too! And there, too!
[13:17] Maomao
    They're so tasty when
    the bulb root is put in water.
[13:21] Maomao
    If I fail to remove the poison, it causes
    horrible stomachaches, though.
[13:26] Maomao
    Hmm?
[13:27] Maomao
    It's Master Lihaku.
[13:28] Maomao
    His belt's a different color.
[13:31] Maomao
    Did he get a promotion?
[13:33] Lihaku
    Hmm? Oh hey, little lady.
[13:37] Maomao
    Master Lihaku.
[13:38] Lihaku
    Accompanying a concubine or something?
[13:41] Lihaku
    Rare to see you outside the rear palace.
[13:44] Maomao
    He doesn't know I got fired.
[13:48] Maomao
    Master Lihaku. He fell in love
    with Big Sister Pairin,
[13:51] Maomao
    one of the Three Princesses
    of the Verdigris House.
[13:53] Maomao
    He's working hard to get a promotion
    for his love. How adorable.
[13:58] Lihaku
    Hmm?
[14:00] Maomao
    The cost of a night with Pairin is equal to
    half the annual salary of a commoner.
[14:06] Maomao
    Since that's too expensive,
    I hear he often visits the Verdigris House
[14:11] Maomao
    to have tea with the servant girls.
[14:14] Maomao
    I never ran into him there.
[14:16] Maomao
    I guess once a man has a taste
    of the heavenly nectar,
[14:20] Maomao
    he can't help but try to get at least a glimpse.
[14:23] Maomao
    He's really working hard.
[14:24] Lihaku
    Hmm? What is it?
[14:26] Maomao
    Nothing. I've been transferred
    from the rear palace
[14:29] Maomao
    to the personal quarters of a certain official.
[14:32] Maomao
    Personal quarters?
    Who's crazy enough to do that?
[14:36] Maomao
    Yeah, I wonder the same.
[14:39] Maomao
    By the way, were you busy with something?
[14:41] Lihaku
    A little.
[14:43] Lihaku
    Just a small fire, not rare
    at this time of the year.
[14:46] Lihaku
    I've been brought out to investigate
    since they can't determine the cause.
[14:49] Maomao
    Unknown cause? So that must be
    what the noise from last night was.
[14:54] Maomao
    Was anyone injured?
[14:56] Lihaku
    Just the warehouseman.
    He's not critically injured, but—
[14:59] Lihaku
    Hey, don't get too close.
[15:02] Maomao
    Understood.
[15:04] Maomao
    Why wouldn't you expect me
    to get curious after hearing that?
[15:10] Maomao
    Soot reaching the adjacent building.
[15:14] Maomao
    Shrapnel all over the building.
[15:17] Maomao
    This is more like an explosion than a fire.
[15:21] Maomao
    I see.
[15:24] Maomao
    They suspect arson.
[15:27] Maomao
    That's why Master Lihaku is here,
    not a lower-ranking official.
[15:33] Maomao
    This isn't just some random warehouse.
[15:35] Maomao
    It's the palace, where the emperor is.
[15:39] Maomao
    Our empire is overall pretty peaceful,
    but there's always someone with issues.
[15:47] Maomao
    There's the occasional barbarian attack,
[15:50] Maomao
    and a famine or drought here and there.
[15:54] Maomao
    Who knows how long peace with
    the neighboring nations will last?
[15:58] Maomao
    I'm sure some people in some foreign
    countries have some complaints.
[16:04] Maomao
    Charcoal? No, it's a burnt potato.
[16:07] Maomao
    What a waste.
[16:10] Maomao
    So this was food storage.
[16:24] Maomao
    Ivory? Looks like a smoking pipe.
[16:28] Lihaku
    Quit snooping around by yourself!
[16:30] Maomao
    A pipe...
[16:33] Maomao
    An explosion. Food storage. A pipe.
[16:40] Lihaku
    Hey!
[16:53] Lihaku
    Can you hear me?!
[16:55] Maomao
    I can hear you.
[16:57] Maomao
    I'm just not listening to you.
[16:59] Maomao
    Does this warehouse store the same kind
    of stuff as the burnt one?
[17:04] Lihaku
    Yeah. The oldest things go in the back.
[17:08] Maomao
    Can I have this?
[17:11] Lihaku
    I suppose so.
[17:13] Maomao
    And this, too?
[17:14] Maomao
    I also need a hammer, a saw, and some nails.
[17:18] Lihaku
    What are you trying to do?
[17:21] Maomao
    Just a quick experiment.
[17:28] Maomao
    This will do.
[17:29] Lihaku
    You're strangely good at this.
[17:31] Maomao
    I grew up poor. I'm good
    at making things I don't have.
[17:40] Lihaku
    That's flour, right?
[17:42] Maomao
    Yes. It was in the warehouse.
[17:49] Subordinate
    Is this what you needed?
[17:50] Maomao
    Yes. And the flame source I asked for?
[17:54] Subordinate
    Right here.
[17:56] Maomao
    Thank you, sir.
[18:02] Lihaku
    I don't get it.
[18:03] Maomao
    It's ready. Please stand back. It's dangerous.
[18:07] Subordinate
    Y-Yes...
[18:12] Maomao
    Master Lihaku, it's dangerous.
[18:15] Lihaku
    What danger could there be?
[18:16] Lihaku
    Whatever you do, I'm a military
    officer. How can I be at risk?
[18:20] Maomao
    Understood. But it really is dangerous,
    so please do be very careful.
[18:25] Maomao
    You have to run right away.
[18:28] Lihaku
    Huh? Run from what—
[18:35] Lihaku
    Put it out!
[18:40] Maomao
    See? I told you so.
[18:46] Lihaku
    So, what caused the explosion?
[18:50] Maomao
    It was this.
[18:52] Lihaku
    Flour?
[18:53] Maomao
    Yes. Fine powder, like wheat
    or buckwheat flour, burns easily.
[18:57] Maomao
    The particles can catch fire when airborne.
[19:02] Maomao
    This was likely what sparked it.
[19:04] Lihaku
    A pipe...?
[19:07] Maomao
    If someone snuck inside to take
    a quick smoke in private,
[19:12] Maomao
    the outside wind could flow in,
    blowing the powder into the air.
[19:15] Maomao
    If the pipe was lit at that time...
[19:20] Maomao
    The flour filling the air would
    catch fire, and cause an explosion.
[19:27] Maomao
    Please let the warehousemen know
    not to smoke in the warehouses.
[19:32] Lihaku
    How do you know these things?
[19:35] Maomao
    Once, at the Verdigris House,
    I blew up a room I borrowed.
[19:40] Lihaku
    You...
[19:42] (Flashback) Old Lady
    You stupid girl!
[19:45] Maomao
    The old lady was real scary back then.
[19:48] Lihaku
    But powders exploding? How strange.
[19:53] Maomao
    Almost nothing in the world is truly strange.
[19:56] Maomao
    Anything that feels strange
    is just not yet known.
[20:00] Lihaku
    Achoo!
[20:01] Maomao
    Please take care to not catch a cold.
[20:04] Maomao
    If you do, find Luomen in the pleasure
    district. His medicines work well.
[20:08] Lihaku
    Right.
[20:09] Maomao
    Dad's so bad at marketing.
    I should help him out a little.
[20:15] Maomao
    Hopefully, he'd pay a visit
    while he's out there for Pairin.
[20:20] Maomao
    Well, I'm heading back to work now.
[20:22] Lihaku
    Sure.
[20:26] Maomao
    Oh, I accidentally brought this with me.
[20:30] Maomao
    If I clean this up and put a new mouthpiece
    on it, would it be good again?
[20:34] Maomao
    It might sell for a pretty good price.
[20:37] Maomao
    That said, it seems too impressive
    for a warehouseman to own.
[20:41] Maomao
    Might be something precious.
[20:45] Maomao
    Maybe I'll clean it up and give it back.
[20:54] Official's Younger Brother
    Dammit!
[20:57] Official's Younger Brother
    I'm worthy, too... Dammit!
SIGN    Next Time
[22:46] Voice
    Next time: "Raw Fish."
SIGN    Episode 15: Raw Fish

E15 - Raw Fish

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
[01:31] Military Officer 1
    Hey, did you hear about the fire the other day?
[01:33] Military Officer 2
    Lihaku did a really good job with it.
[01:36] Military Officer 3
    I never expected he'd be able to solve it.
[01:39] Military Officer 1
    Actually, I heard a rumor that
    a servant girl helped solve it.
[01:44] Military Officer 3
    A servant girl?
[01:46] Military Officer 2
    They say she's a personal
    attendant of Master Jinshi.
[01:48] Military Officer 1
    Wow, really?
[01:50] Military Officer 1
    Didn't Master Jinshi buy out
[01:52] Military Officer 1
    a courtesan from the Verdigris
     House the other day?
[01:55] Military Officer 1
    I hear she's a beautiful
    intellectual with cold eyes.
[01:59] Military Officer 2
    Yeah, the guys who saw her
    wouldn't shut up about her.
[02:03] Military Officer 1
    Master Lakan?!
[02:07] Lakan
    Mind telling me more about that?
SIGN    Episode 15: Raw Fish
[02:21] Gaoshun
    Xiaomao, could you spare a moment?
[02:23] Maomao
    Master Gaoshun. What is it?
[02:27] Gaoshun
    There's something
    I'd like you to take a look at.
[02:31] Maomao
    Records of an old incident.
[02:34] Maomao
    Ten years ago, at a merchant's home,
[02:36] Maomao
    there was a food poisoning incident
    involving a raw pufferfish dish.
[02:40] Maomao
    Pufferfish poison...
[02:42] Maomao
    I love how it tingles and stings.
[02:44] Maomao
    Oh, I really want some now!
[02:47] Gaoshun
    I can take you to a place
    that serves it sometime soon.
[02:53] Maomao
    So, what about this?
[02:55] Gaoshun
    A while ago, I was officially
     involved with this case.
[03:02] Gaoshun
    A colleague asked me for advice, because
     a similar incident occurred recently.
[03:09] Maomao
    A similar incident?
[03:10] Gaoshun
    A bureaucrat ate pufferfish, raw and seasoned
    with vinegar, and fell into a coma.
[03:16] Maomao
    A coma?
[03:19] Maomao
    Master Gaoshun, my apologies.
[03:22] Maomao
    Is it appropriate for me to learn about this?
[03:25] Gaoshun
    That won't be an issue.
    You are someone who knows her place.
[03:31] Maomao
    In other words, stay silent about this.
[03:33] Gaoshun
    Besides, this story involves poison.
    Are you sure you want me to stop here?
[03:40] Maomao
    Please, do continue.
SIGN    Pufferfish
[03:48] Gaoshun
    In this instance, they served
    parboiled pufferfish skin and meat.
[03:53] Gaoshun
    He ate this and fell into a coma.
[03:57] Maomao
    The meat? Most of the poison is in the gut.
[04:02] Gaoshun
    Yes, the skin and the meat.
[04:05] Maomao
    The meat isn't supposed
    to have much poison in it...
[04:08] Maomao
    Maybe it depends on the type of
    pufferfish or the environment it's from.
[04:15] Maomao
    Nothing seems out of place, then?
[04:17] Gaoshun
    The thing is, in both cases,
    this time and in the past,
[04:21] Gaoshun
    the cook claims they hadn't
    used pufferfish in the dish.
[04:26] Maomao
    That sounds interesting.
[04:29] Gaoshun
    That's not the only thing in common.
[04:31] Gaoshun
    The two who fell ill...
[04:33] Gaoshun
    The bureaucrat from this case
    and the merchant from the past one
[04:36] Gaoshun
    were both gourmets who loved eating rare foods.
[04:40] Gaoshun
    They both often ate raw fish and
     pufferfish was one of their favorites.
[04:47] Gaoshun
    After the incident, all of the organs
    and skin were discovered in the trash,
[04:53] Gaoshun
    so it was determined that
    the guts were never consumed.
[04:57] Gaoshun
    In both cases, the cooks claimed innocence, said
     the pufferfish was served the night before,
[05:03] Gaoshun
    and that on the day of the incident,
     they'd used a different fish.
[05:08] Gaoshun
    However, there were
    no witnesses to provide proof.
[05:12] Gaoshun
    The bureaucrat ate all the food served,
[05:15] Gaoshun
    then became intoxicated
    and collapsed half an hour later.
[05:18] Gaoshun
    He was discovered convulsing.
[05:22] Maomao
    He did a more thorough
    investigation than I'd expect.
[05:25] Maomao
    Plenty of other bureaucrats would put
    in zero effort and just make up a suspect.
[05:31] Gaoshun
    What do you think?
[05:32] Maomao
    The symptoms do sound
    like pufferfish poison,
[05:35] Maomao
    but I can't say for certain
     without more details.
[05:39] Maomao
    Master Gaoshun, can you try
    to find more information?
[05:44] Gaoshun
    Understood. I will look into it.
[05:52] Maomao
    At this time of year, it's not rare to
    have food trash sit out for a few days.
[05:58] Maomao
    The testimony of using different fish
    matches the evidence of the leftovers...
[06:04] Jinshi
    What were you talking about?
[06:07] Jinshi
    That look would wound anyone, even me.
[06:13] Jinshi
    You seemed to be listening
    very eagerly to Gaoshun's story.
[06:17] Maomao
    People naturally pay attention to
     stories that are actually interesting.
[06:21] Jinshi
    Wait, hold on. You often
     cut me off mid-speech—
[06:24] Maomao
    Oh dear, it's getting late.
    With that, I'll take my leave.
[06:28] Jinshi
    Hey, I'm not done talking—
[06:30] Suiren
    Oh no, don't move.
[06:33] Suiren
    Come on, stay still.
[06:42] Gaoshun
    Xiaomao, about the discussion
    we had yesterday...
[06:46] Gaoshun
    These are the cook's notes.
[06:49] Gaoshun
    According to the servant, it describes
    everything served to their master.
[06:54] Maomao
    Thank you.
[07:00] Maomao
    "Parboil the fish. Add cut vegetables.
    Season with vinegar."
[07:04] Maomao
    The recipe looks normal.
[07:08] Gaoshun
    There are several types of
    vinegar mixtures outlined,
[07:11] Gaoshun
    but the list of ingredients lack detail.
[07:14] Maomao
    That must be because the types of fish
    and vegetables available differ by season.
[07:20] Maomao
    This won't help us understand the key facts
    around what was actually used to cook the dish.
[07:25] Jinshi
    You can't understand?
[07:28] Maomao
    He wants to join in.
[07:32] Jinshi
    So, what can't you understand?
[07:37] Suiren
    It will be mealtime soon.
[07:39] Jinshi
    I know.
[07:41] Maomao
    That's quite childish.
[07:44] Maomao
    When did the incident occur?
[07:46] Gaoshun
    About a week ago.
[07:49] Gaoshun
    Meaning winter vegetables,
    so probably radishes and carrots?
[07:55] Gaoshun
    Actually, I hear they used seaweed.
[07:59] Maomao
    Seaweed?
[08:01] Gaoshun
    Seaweed.
[08:03] Maomao
    If he likes rare foods, I guess
    he could have tried strange seaweeds.
[08:09] Maomao
    If possible, could I take a look
     at the kitchen involved?
[08:29] Maomao
    I'm here under Master Gaoshun's orders.
[08:32] Basen
    I'm Basen. I've heard about you.
[08:36] Maomao
    I am Maomao.
[08:37] Basen
    We're heading to the mansion now,
    but remember, you're my follower.
[08:41] Basen
    Don't do anything without my permission.
[08:44] Maomao
    Understood.
[08:50] Basen
    Once we arrive, the servant there
    will show us to the kitchen.
[08:54] Maomao
    Understood.
[08:55] Maomao
    Master Gaoshun sure does work fast.
[08:59] Maomao
    That aside...
[09:01] Maomao
    I've never seen this officer before.
[09:03] Maomao
    He looks familiar, though.
[09:07] Maomao
    He doesn't seem to have
    a good impression of me.
[09:09] Maomao
    Oh, well.
[09:16] Servant
    This is the kitchen.
[09:22] Servant
    It hasn't been used since the poison incident.
[09:29] Basen
    Hmm? Hey!
[09:34] Official's Younger Brother
    Who let you in here?! Get out!
[09:35] Official's Younger Brother
    What are you doing?!
    Did you bring these people here?!
[09:40] Basen
    I've gotten permission from the mistress,
    and this is official business.
[09:45] Official's Younger Brother
    Is that true?
[09:47] Basen
    May we continue? Or would that
    inconvenience you in some way?
[09:52] Official's Younger Brother
    Whatever.
[09:56] Maomao
    Who is that?
[09:57] Servant
    That is the master's younger brother.
[10:00] Servant
    After the master fell into the coma,
    and the mistress took ill from fatigue,
[10:05] Servant
    the younger brother manages the mansion.
[10:09] Maomao
    I see.
[10:12] Maomao
    Master Basen.
[10:13] Basen
    Yeah.
[10:16] Maomao
    The cook washed all the cooking utensils.
[10:21] Maomao
    Other than that...
[10:34] Maomao
    What is this?
[10:35] Servant
    Ah, the master loved that.
[10:38] Servant
    It's his favorite. He ate it often.
[10:40] Servant
    I don't think it's poisonous...
[10:44] Maomao
    He doesn't seem to be lying.
[10:46] Official's Younger Brother
    So that's that.
[10:48] Official's Younger Brother
    If you're done here, please leave.
[10:51] Maomao
    Indeed.
[10:56] Maomao
    Sorry to bother you.
[11:02] Basen
    Why did you back down so easily?
[11:04] Maomao
    I don't consider that backing down.
[11:10] Basen
    You brought it with you?
[11:12] Maomao
    This is strange.
[11:14] Maomao
    This seaweed isn't in season quite yet.
[11:18] Maomao
    But even if salted and preserved from
     last year, it wouldn't last this long.
[11:24] Basen
    I see.
[11:26] Maomao
    I don't think it was gathered in our region.
[11:30] Maomao
    Perhaps it was imported from the south.
[11:35] Maomao
    It would be good if we could
    find out where it came from.
[11:42] Maomao
    I think he gets what I mean.
[11:44] Maomao
    In that case, I'll do what I have to do.
[11:56] Jinshi
    What's this?
[11:58] Maomao
    The seaweed I got from the mansion.
[12:01] Maomao
    I've split it into two
    and put it in some water.
[12:05] Maomao
    Why is Master Jinshi here?
[12:08] Basen
    The seaweed was indeed
    imported from the south.
[12:13] Basen
    According to the servant, the master
    never ate that seaweed in the winter.
[12:20] Gaoshun
    The cook also said this is the same
    as the seaweed they normally use,
[12:24] Gaoshun
    and can't be poisonous.
[12:26] Maomao
    You can't assume it's not poisonous
     just because it's the same seaweed.
[12:31] Maomao
    Maybe this seaweed
    isn't eaten often in the south.
[12:37] Maomao
    Perhaps a merchant learned that
    it's a favorite of this bureaucrat,
[12:41] Maomao
    and, looking to profit from that,
[12:43] Maomao
    went out of his way to get some locals
    to make a salted version of it?
[12:48] Jinshi
    Why is that a problem?
[12:51] Maomao
    Sometimes, poisons can become not poisonous.
[12:56] Maomao
    For example, eels are originally poisonous,
[13:00] Maomao
    but by bleeding them out or cooking
    them, they become edible.
[13:04] Maomao
    In the case of this seaweed, I think
    it had to be soaked in limewater first.
[13:09] Maomao
    What I have here is one batch soaked in
    limewater, and one batch without that.
[13:18] Jinshi
    What are you doing?!
[13:19] Maomao
    It's fine.
[13:20] Maomao
    Probably.
[13:21] Jinshi
    What do you mean, "probably"?!
[13:23] Maomao
    Don't worry. I have
    an emetic agent right here—
[13:27] Jinshi
    Don't say that so proudly!
[13:29] Jinshi
    Gaoshun!
[13:30] Gaoshun
    Yes.
[13:31] Maomao
    Hey—
[13:32] Jinshi
    Vomit, now!
[13:38] Maomao
    I wanted to test if the detoxification
    could be done overnight...
[13:43] Maomao
    Um, back on topic.
[13:46] Maomao
    So, the issue is: who suggested that
     the trader bring the salted seaweed?
[13:54] Maomao
    If the one who ate it imported it himself,
[13:57] Maomao
    it'd be his own fault, in a sense.
[14:00] Maomao
    But, if he didn't...
[14:04] Maomao
    Bringing it in from a region
     that doesn't eat it
[14:07] Maomao
    is obviously taking a pretty big risk.
[14:11] Gaoshun
    I understand.
[14:13] Maomao
    The people here are smart.
    I don't have to elaborate further.
[14:19] Maomao
    I guess that settles it for now.
[14:26] Jinshi
    Hey!
[14:30] Gaoshun
    The culprit was the official's younger brother.
[14:34] Gaoshun
    When we found where he bought the seaweed,
[14:36] Gaoshun
    he confessed to being
     the one who'd purchased it.
[14:41] Gaoshun
    His motive was that, being
    the younger son, he wasn't treated well.
[14:45] Gaoshun
    He wanted to remove his older
    brother from the picture.
[14:48] Gaoshun
    A commonplace story.
[14:49] Maomao
    But how could a person who'd plot to murder
    someone for such a thoughtless reason
[14:55] Maomao
    have learned about the seaweed poison?
[14:59] Gaoshun
    He happened to hear about it from a person
    sitting next to him at a tavern, apparently.
[15:04] Maomao
    "Happened to," huh? Sure...
[15:11] Maomao
    In the end, I didn't get to try
    the poisonous seaweed...
[15:16] Maomao
    By the way, what should I use it for?
[15:19] Maomao
    That mushroom the color of dry leaves
    growing from the dead insect!
[15:23] Maomao
    Should I make medicinal booze?! A pill?!
[15:31] Maomao
    Welcome home!
[15:33] Maomao
    Welcome home!
[15:45] Gaoshun
    What's going on?!
[15:47] Maomao
    It's not my fault.
[15:53] Suiren
    You seem tired.
[15:55] Jinshi
    I have so much work piled up,
[15:57] Jinshi
    but there's someone
    I just don't get along with.
[16:00] Jinshi
    We just can't see eye-to-eye.
[16:02] Maomao
    I never would have thought you'd
     ever have trouble with people.
[16:07] Jinshi
    This man's a razor-sharp
    high official in the military.
[16:11] Jinshi
    He comes from a good family, but even
    though he's past forty, he hasn't married.
[16:15] Jinshi
    He adopted his nephew as his son
    and has him handle his household.
[16:19] Jinshi
    A famous weirdo.
[16:21] Maomao
    A forty-plus, high-ranking
    military officer... and weirdo?
[16:26] Jinshi
    His only interests are go, shogi, and rumors.
[16:32] Jinshi
    He files complaints, barges in,
[16:35] Jinshi
    and keeps extending deadlines
    on decisions that need to be made.
[16:39] Jinshi
    I think he has it out for me for some reason.
[16:42] Jinshi
    He's been camping in my office
    for several days in a row.
[16:47] Maomao
    Okay, let's forget about this!
[16:49] Maomao
    No good can come from dwelling on this.
[16:55] Maomao
    However, no matter how hard I try to forget,
[16:58] Maomao
    as usual, my bad hunches are correct.
[17:01] Jinshi
    This matter was settled already.
[17:04] Lakan
    Flower viewing in the winter is difficult.
[17:06] Lakan
    I thought this would be better instead.
[17:10] Jinshi
    This man is Lakan. He is a strategist.
[17:14] Jinshi
    It seems like the reason
    he's confronting me
[17:17] Jinshi
    is because I made Maomao, who is connected
    to the Verdigris House, my servant.
[17:22] Lakan
    Come to think of it, I have an old
    acquaintance in the Verdigris House.
[17:27] Jinshi
    That's unexpected. I thought
    he had no interest in romance.
[17:33] Jinshi
    What kind of courtesan is she?
[17:37] Jinshi
    Shoot, I asked without thinking.
[17:39] Lakan
    She was a good courtesan.
[17:41] Lakan
    She was very good at go and shogi.
    I could beat her in shogi, but never in go.
[17:48] Lakan
    Defeating our master strategist?
    She must have been good.
[17:52] Lakan
    I considered buying her out,
[17:55] Lakan
    since I felt I would never meet
    another woman as interesting as her.
[18:00] Lakan
    But sometimes, things just don't work out.
[18:04] Lakan
    Two rich men with curious tastes
    endlessly tried to outbid each other.
[18:10] Jinshi
    Is that so?
[18:12] Jinshi
    It's said, at times,
    buying out a courtesan
[18:14] Jinshi
    could cost about as much as a small palace.
[18:17] Lakan
    She was a strange courtesan.
[18:20] Jinshi
    Where is he trying to go with this story?
[18:24] Lakan
    She would sell her skills, but never herself.
[18:27] Lakan
    In fact, she didn't treat
    guests as customers at all.
[18:31] Lakan
    Even when pouring tea,
    she had an arrogant look,
[18:36] Lakan
    like she was being charitable
    to a lowly peasant.
[18:39] Lakan
    But there were many with curious tastes
    who were head over heels for her.
[18:44] Lakan
    Myself among them, naturally.
[18:47] Lakan
    That chill down my spine
    was truly irresistible.
[18:55] Lakan
    Oh, how I wanted to try
    to force myself on her one day.
[19:03] Lakan
    In the end, I couldn't give up on her,
[19:06] Lakan
    so I had no choice but
     to use a bit of a dirty trick.
[19:10] Jinshi
    Meaning?
[19:11] Lakan
    If something's too expensive,
     you simply lower its value.
[19:16] Lakan
    I made her less exquisite.
[19:21] Lakan
    Do you know how I did that?
[19:25] Jinshi
    Why play hard-to-get all of a sudden?
[19:33] Lakan
    Well, before I get into that,
    I have a favor to ask.
[19:38] Jinshi
    What is it?
[19:40] Lakan
    I heard that the servant girl you hired
     recently is quite intriguing.
[19:46] Lakan
    They say she has a strange
    knack for solving puzzles.
[19:52] Lakan
    I was acquainted with a metalworker
    who was the palace purveyor.
[19:58] Lakan
    He suddenly passed away a few days ago,
[20:01] Lakan
    and failed to name a proper successor.
[20:04] Lakan
    He had three children who
    were also his apprentices.
[20:08] Lakan
    Unfortunately, he died before passing on
    his secret techniques to his children.
[20:14] Lakan
    He left a puzzling will, which might be a hint.
[20:19] Lakan
    That's been bothering me for a while.
[20:23] Jinshi
    Where are you going with this?
[20:25] Lakan
    Nowhere special, really.
[20:29] Lakan
    I just wonder if there's some way
     to learn that secret technique.
[20:35] Lakan
    Perhaps, for example,
[20:37] Lakan
    by having your clever servant girl take a look.
[20:47] Jinshi
    Well... I suppose I could hear the whole story.
[20:59] Maomao
    That's a lot of rain.
SIGN    Next Time
[22:46] Narrator
    Next time: "Lead."
SIGN    Episode 16: Lead

E16 - Lead

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
[01:31] Jinshi
    This is a bit troublesome...
[01:34] Maomao
    Huh?
[01:34] Maomao
    He usually doesn't hesitate
    to bring trouble my way.
[01:39] Maomao
    How out-of-character for him.
[01:43] Maomao
    What is it?
[01:44] Jinshi
    Well...
[01:46] Jinshi
    It's something related to
    an acquaintance of an acquaintance.
[01:51] Jinshi
    A metalworker who was
    the palace purveyor passed away
[01:54] Jinshi
    without passing on his techniques to
    his sons, who were also his apprentices.
[02:00] Jinshi
    They say some of those techniques
    were completely secret and unknown.
[02:06] Maomao
    So, you want to figure out
    the metalworker's secret technique.
[02:11] Jinshi
    You make it sound so simple.
[02:14] Jinshi
    Besides, why are you so
     enthusiastic this time around?
[02:19] Maomao
    Does it seem that way?
[02:23] Jinshi
    The metalworker's three sons
    were all his apprentices.
[02:28] Jinshi
    As the father died, it's said that one of
    the sons will take his place as the purveyor.
[02:33] Jinshi
    There were distribution instructions
    for the father's mementos in his will.
[02:38] Jinshi
    The workshop shack for the eldest son.
[02:41] Jinshi
    Furniture with excellent workmanship
    for the second son.
[02:45] Jinshi
    A fishbowl for the youngest son.
[02:47] Jinshi
    And one final note: "You all should have
    a tea party together, like old times."
[02:54] Maomao
    A tea party? What a mysterious will.
[02:59] Maomao
    Did he mean a literal tea party?
    Or does that have another meaning?
[03:05] Jinshi
    The sons have no idea after
     hearing the will, either.
[03:08] Maomao
    The mementos seem very unbalanced, too.
[03:13] Maomao
    A shack, furniture, and a fishbowl?
[03:16] Maomao
    The younger the son,
    the lower the value, it seems.
[03:21] Maomao
    What were those items like?
[03:23] Maomao
    I haven't heard the details. But...
[03:28] (Flashback) Lakan
    If that piques your interest,
    here is the address.
[03:33] Jinshi
    He said, if it piques your interest,
    you should go take a look.
[03:40] Maomao
    How well-prepared.
[03:42] Maomao
    It's like he expected this
    to happen. Interesting.
[03:47] Maomao
    If I can have time tomorrow...
[03:52] Jinshi
    Yeah...
[03:53] Maomao
    I'll probably get more work
    on my plate when I get back.
SIGN    Episode 16: Lead
[04:02] Maomao
    Oh, that's...
[04:05] Maomao
    Basen, was it?
[04:07] Basen
    Like the last time, you're my follower.
[04:11] Basen
    Don't do anything unless I allow it.
[04:13] Maomao
    Understood.
[04:16] Maomao
    Like last time, he only
    says the bare minimum.
[04:20] Maomao
    I don't think he likes me much.
[04:23] Maomao
    If he's harmless, I don't mind.
[04:30] Youngest Son
    Coming.
[04:34] Youngest Son
    Master Basen. We've been
    notified of your visit.
[04:39] Maomao
    Hmm?
[04:45] Youngest Son
    Ah, yes, that belonged to my father.
[04:48] Youngest Son
    He had a strange hobby,
    collecting weird things.
[04:51] Maomao
    Huh...
[04:53] Basen
    Is that the workshop shack?
[04:56] Youngest Son
    Yes. That said, we do our work
    in the main house now.
[05:00] Youngest Son
    The shack is used as a tea house
    for the craftsmen.
[05:06] Youngest Son
    Come in.
[05:07] Youngest Son
    Hey, I brought the guests.
[05:10] Eldest Son
    Yeah.
[05:11] Second Son
    Thank you for coming out.
[05:13] Maomao
    These must be the elder brothers, and
    the first man must have been the youngest.
[05:18] Basen
    The furniture is placed strangely.
[05:21] Basen
    Hey.
[05:22] Maomao
    Indeed...
[05:23] Maomao
    Having things in the center
    like this would get in the way.
[05:26] Maomao
    The room still looks kind of nice though,
[05:29] Maomao
    probably because of how the table
    weirdly brings the room together,
[05:32] Maomao
    and how classy this chest of drawers looks.
[05:38] Maomao
    There's metalwork on the corners.
[05:42] Maomao
    The top row has three drawers. A keyhole
    in the center drawer in the second row.
[05:46] Maomao
    A different metal is used as an accent here...
[05:51] Maomao
    Hmm?
[05:52] Maomao
    Is this bolted in place?
[05:55] Second Son
    Hey, that's mine.
[05:57] Second Son
    You're free to look, but don't touch.
[06:01] Maomao
    Right, the second son was given
    furniture as his memento.
[06:05] Second Son
    Hmph!
[06:06] Maomao
    If this chest is the
    aforementioned furniture,
[06:09] Maomao
    then this man must be the second son.
[06:12] Maomao
    Which must mean that the
    tall man is the eldest son.
[06:20] Maomao
    The window placement is strange, too.
[06:22] Maomao
    It's western-style, and strangely tall.
[06:25] Maomao
    Despite the ample sunlight
    that could have come in,
[06:28] Maomao
    the huge chestnut tree outside ruins it.
[06:32] Maomao
    The sunlight that gets in is
    filtered through the branches.
[06:35] Maomao
    And this is the only spot
    that gets that light.
[06:39] Maomao
    Hmm?
[06:40] Maomao
    This mark. Was something
    placed here for a long time?
[06:44] Eldest Son
    Can you really figure out
    what our father left behind?
[06:49] Basen
    That's...
[06:56] Basen
    You'd have to elaborate on
    your end for us to know more.
[07:02] Eldest Son
    It's exactly as you heard.
[07:04] Eldest Son
    Our father kicked the bucket without
    giving us the secret technique.
[07:08] Eldest Son
    And the only thing he left me is this shack.
[07:11] Second Son
    And for me, this chest of drawers.
[07:15] Youngest Son
    F-For me, this.
[07:17] Maomao
    Made of glass, so it's expensive.
[07:20] Maomao
    I assumed the fishbowl would
    be wooden, or ceramic at best.
[07:24] Maomao
    In that case, I guess all
    the mementos have some value.
[07:30] Second Son
    What was he thinking?
[07:34] Second Son
    Thanks for this gift, but it only has
    one key, which doesn't fit the keyhole.
[07:39] Basen
    Doesn't fit the keyhole?
[07:41] Second Son
    This is probably the key for the center
    row, but it won't fit the keyhole.
[07:47] Second Son
    The three drawers on top are
    supposed to open with the same key,
[07:51] Second Son
    but the actual key is nowhere to be found.
[07:54] Second Son
    What's the point of inheriting it?
[07:57] Eldest Son
    I'm in the same boat. What's the point of getting
     this shack if I can't move the chest out?
[08:03] Eldest Son
    What a bother.
[08:05] Youngest Son
    Dad was...
[08:07] Youngest Son
    D-Dad was probably thinking...
[08:10] Eldest Son
    I envy you. You got something
    you could easily sell.
[08:15] Second Son
    Yeah. It's not much, but it'd still be
    worth enough to live off of for a while.
[08:21] Eldest Son
    I don't get Dad at all.
[08:23] Second Son
    What possible benefit could there
    be to having tea party now?
[08:29] Maomao
    Hmm, now what should we do?
[08:31] Maomao
    The two elder brothers don't
    seem too fond of the youngest.
[08:37] Mother
    All of you, stop this!
[08:39] Mother
    That's no way to behave in front of guests.
[08:42] Mother
    I'm so sorry. I don't know when
     they started acting this way.
[08:46] Mother
    The two older boys have become so cynical.
[08:50] Mother
    And the youngest can't
    even express his opinions.
[08:53] Mother
    My husband was worried about
    them until the moment he died.
[08:59] Maomao
    I guess being worried about your kids,
[09:01] Maomao
    no matter how old they get,
    is part of being a parent.
[09:07] Mother
    Please enjoy the tea. Excuse me.
[09:16] Maomao
    They all moved. I guess
    they each have a set position.
[09:22] Maomao
    I suppose it must be just habit,
    in order to not block the window.
[09:26] Maomao
    This time of day, the sunlight
    comes through the window.
[09:30] Maomao
    If the sunlight reached a little
    further, it might hit the chest...
[09:34] Maomao
    But there's no sign of sun
    damage on the chest.
[09:37] Maomao
    Sun damage...?
[09:40] Basen
    Hey.
[09:45] Maomao
    The sunlight doesn't come in
    for too long of a time.
[10:01] Maomao
    Is something stuck inside?
[10:03] Basen
    Did you figure something out?
[10:05] Maomao
    Ah! I was thinking he looked familiar.
[10:09] Maomao
    He looks like Gaoshun!
[10:15] Basen
    So?
[10:17] Maomao
    The center drawer
    with the lock won't open, right?
[10:21] Maomao
    It used to open, but apparently
    it got stuck after Dad worked on it.
[10:27] Maomao
    And there's only one key?
[10:29] Second Son
    Just this one.
[10:31] Second Son
    Dad said if we broke the lock,
    it would break whatever's inside.
[10:36] Second Son
    So we can't force it open, either.
[10:41] Maomao
    The mementos given to each son.
[10:44] Maomao
    A shack, a chest of drawers, and a fishbowl.
[10:48] Maomao
    The chest is bolted down in the shack.
[10:51] Maomao
    The chest has drawers that can't be unlocked.
[10:53] Maomao
    And...
[10:55] (Flashback) Jinshi
    "You all should have a tea party
    together, like old times."
[11:02] Maomao
    Could it be...?
[11:11] Maomao
    Excuse me. Was the fishbowl
    originally placed there, on that shelf?
[11:17] Youngest Son
    Huh? Um, yes.
[11:19] Youngest Son
    We used to have a goldfish
     in it, and put it here.
[11:24] Youngest Son
    If it got too cold, the goldfish would die,
[11:26] Youngest Son
    so in the winter, we'd only put it here during
    tea parties, when the sunlight kept it warm.
[11:30] Youngest Son
    Around this time of day, actually.
[11:32] Youngest Son
    We haven't had any goldfish
    for the past few years, though.
[11:37] Maomao
    Hmm.
[11:41] Basen
    Hey, you!
[11:42] Maomao
    I'm going to go ask for some water.
[11:45] Basen
    Darting off without my permission again!
[11:53] Maomao
    You filled it with water, like this?
[11:56] Youngest Son
    Yes. This pattern should face this way.
[12:04] Maomao
    I knew it.
[12:05] Second Son
    H-Hey! What is this?!
[12:10] Maomao
    Don't touch that!
[12:12] Maomao
    I'm sorry. It could blind you
    if it shined into your eyes.
[12:16] Maomao
    Also, please step back, as you're blocking it.
[12:18] Maomao
    You won't be able to unlock it.
[12:33] Maomao
    It seems like the chestnut tree
    is casting a shadow now.
[12:39] Maomao
    It's hot. Also, there's a strange smell.
[12:42] Second Son
    Hey, what's the meaning of all this?!
[12:44] Maomao
    Now, please unlock this drawer with that key.
[12:48] Second Son
    I told you, it doesn't fit.
[12:51] Maomao
    Please.
[12:52] Second Son
    Hmph.
[12:58] Second Son
    W-What's going on?!
[13:01] Maomao
    Did your father happen to suffer from
     persistent anemia and stomachaches?
[13:06] Youngest Child
    Yes, that's correct.
[13:08] Maomao
    Nausea and depression, as well?
[13:11] Youngest Child
    Those, too.
[13:13] Maomao
    I don't know much about metalwork,
[13:17] Maomao
    but do you use solder in this workshop?
[13:20] Youngest Child
    Yes, we do.
[13:22] Basen
    What does that mean?
[13:23] Maomao
    I just followed the instruction from the will,
    to have a tea party like you used to.
[13:33] Maomao
    A mold for a key.
    May I remove it from the mold?
[13:37] Second Son
    S-Sure.
[13:39] Maomao
    It's still warm, and soft.
[13:43] Maomao
    The metal stuck in the keyhole
    must have melted from the heat,
[13:47] Maomao
    and flowed into the mold
    below it before hardening.
[13:58] Second Son
    It's open!
[13:59] Eldest Son
    What's inside?
[14:02] Second Son
    What is this?!
[14:04] Maomao
    This bluish crystal seems to be the same
    kind as the one near the entrance.
[14:11] Second Son
    Dammit! What does he mean, get along?
[14:14] Second Son
    We all just got played by his final prank!
[14:18] Eldest Son
    What a bother!
[14:20] Youngest Son
    Lead and tin...?
[14:23] Maomao
    I knew a grumpy craftsman of a customer who said
    techniques should be seen and stolen.
[14:29] Maomao
    I took that seriously and tried to make
    my own medicine based on what I saw my dad do.
[14:34] Maomao
    I ended up poisoning myself, and...
[14:36] (Flashback) Luomen
    You should ask first.
[14:38] Maomao
    That was the lesson he taught me.
[14:41] Maomao
    It seems like the youngest son was the only
    one who understood his dead father's intent.
[14:46] Maomao
    I've heard that, by mixing several
    different types of metals together,
[14:50] Maomao
    solder melts at a temperature lower than
    that of the individual metals originally.
[14:55] Maomao
    Of the three chunks, two were lead and tin.
[14:58] Maomao
    Those and whatever this third thing is
    might mix to create a new metal.
[15:05] Maomao
    Also, the light was
    concentrated by the fishbowl,
[15:09] Maomao
    but it wasn't heated for very long.
[15:12] Maomao
    The melting point must be very low.
[15:16] Maomao
    The differently-sized
    drawers might represent
[15:18] Maomao
    the ratio at which
    the metals should be mixed,
[15:22] Maomao
    but I don't need to comment on that.
[15:25] Eldest Son
    What kind of will is this? Let's go.
[15:28] Second Son
    What a waste of time.
[15:31] Youngest Son
    Wait, guys!
[15:34] Youngest Son
    It's not a prank.
[15:36] Eldest Son
    What is it, then?!
[15:38] Youngest Son
    Dad really did leave a will to make
    the three of us get along again!
[15:46] Youngest Son
    So I want the three of us
    to continue working together!
[15:58] Eldest Son
    Together? The three of us?
[16:01] Eldest Son
    What a joke. You're different from us.
[16:05] Second Son
    You have talent. Dad actually
    cared about you, and only you.
[16:11] Youngest Son
    T-That's not true!
[16:14] Youngest Son
    Dad always trusted you two!
[16:18] Youngest Son
    He always told me...
[16:21] Youngest Son
    Chang, you're always so calm
    and accurate with any work you do.
[16:26] Youngest Son
    Dad said he could rely on you for anything,
     because you don't make mistakes!
[16:29] Youngest Son
    Tzu, you're good at getting to know people.
[16:33] Youngest Son
    He said you should be proud of your gift,
    the ability to be friendly with anyone!
[16:40] Youngest Son
    Dad viewed the three of us equally.
[16:52] Youngest Son
    At least, that's what I think.
[16:58] Basen
    Excuse us.
[16:59] Youngest Son
    Oh, um, sorry.
[17:02] Maomao
    Father... Well, it's got nothing to do with me.
[17:08] Youngest Son
    Thank you.
[17:11] Maomao
    But I should tell him just this one thing.
[17:14] Basen
    Hey.
[17:17] Maomao
    There's an apothecary named
     Luomen at a brothel called
[17:20] Maomao
    the Verdigris House
     in the pleasure district.
[17:22] Maomao
    He's also a skilled physician.
[17:24] Maomao
    If you start to feel unwell,
    please pay him a visit.
[17:28] Youngest Son
    Y-Yes.
[17:44] Lakan
    Thank you for the other day.
[17:46] Lakan
    It turned out quite interestingly.
[17:50] Lakan
    The youngest son truly was
     the most skilled, after all.
[17:57] Jinshi
    This strategist must have known all along.
[18:00] Lakan
    He suddenly started to
    show that skill of his.
[18:05] Lakan
    They say he'll take his father's place and
    begin selling his metalworks to the palace.
[18:11] Lakan
    The older two sons are no longer
    going to work as craftsmen.
[18:17] Jinshi
    Is that...
[18:18] Lakan
    It can't be all that bad.
[18:21] Lakan
    They took the hint from
    their dead father, perhaps.
[18:27] Lakan
    The eldest will take care of bookkeeping.
[18:29] Lakan
    The second son will find new clients.
[18:32] Lakan
    They're both going to help
    the family from different angles.
[18:38] Lakan
    In other words, they all found their place.
[18:45] Jinshi
    I don't know what happened at the mansion.
[18:48] Jinshi
    The apothecary girl must
    know and is keeping silent.
[18:52] Lakan
    The late metalworker's works
    were truly wonderful.
[18:57] Lakan
    It was a simple metal part, but if used on
    a ritual utensil, it would look fabulous.
[19:06] Jinshi
    Indeed.
[19:08] Jinshi
    What an annoying person.
[19:10] Jinshi
    He must know, given my position,
    ritual utensils don't mean anything to me.
[19:15] Jinshi
    I wonder why, master strategist,
    you brought up—
[19:17] Lakan
    Come now, I just didn't want
    to keep good talent buried.
[19:23] Lakan
    Elder or younger brother shouldn't matter.
[19:26] Lakan
    Those with talent should receive attention.
[19:32] Jinshi
    He has a point. Lakan may be a shady man,
[19:35] Jinshi
    but he definitely can
    discern talent in people.
[19:38] Jinshi
    It can be argued that he used that
    ability to climb to his current rank.
[19:44] Jinshi
    By the way...
[19:46] Jinshi
    May I hear the rest of that story from earlier?
[19:49] Lakan
    Which story?
[19:53] Jinshi
    The one about the courtesan.
[19:56] Lakan
    Ah, yes! The way to decrease
    the value of a courtesan.
[20:03] Lakan
    You should direct that inquiry
    to someone who knows that world.
[20:10] Lakan
    Oh goodness, the time!
[20:12] Lakan
    My subordinates would scold me
    if I stayed any longer.
[20:20] Lakan
    Please give this to your serving maids.
[20:25] Lakan
    It's a good drink, not too sweet.
[20:28] Lakan
    See you tomorrow.
[20:37] Gaoshun
    Master Jinshi.
[20:39] Jinshi
    Hmm?
[20:41] Gaoshun
    I'm sorry to bother you
    when you're so tired, but...
[20:48] Maomao
    Did you need me?
[20:50] Jinshi
    Do you know much about makeup?
[20:53] Maomao
    Well, yes, the basics.
[20:56] Jinshi
    In that case,
[20:58] Jinshi
    can you do my makeup for me?
[21:03] Maomao
    Huh?
SIGN    Next Time
[22:46] Narrator
    Next time: "A Jaunt Around Town."
SIGN    Episode 17: A Jaunt Around Town

E17 - A Jaunt Around Town

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
[01:32] Jinshi
    In that case,
[01:34] Jinshi
    can you put makeup on me?
[01:37] Maomao
    Huh?
[01:44] Maomao
    He definitely doesn't need it.
[01:48] Maomao
    There are many silly wars in history,
[01:52] Maomao
    but several of them were
    caused by beautiful women.
[01:57] Maomao
    If this man, in all his heavenly
    beauty, were to put on makeup...
[02:02] Maomao
    Are you trying to topple a nation, or what?
[02:04] Jinshi
    Where'd that come from?!
[02:05] Jinshi
    Why does your imagination do that?
[02:09] Jinshi
    How do you make your freckles?
[02:13] Maomao
    Ah, he wants to be less beautiful, not more.
[02:17] Maomao
    I make some powder out of dried clay,
[02:20] Maomao
    then mix that into oil.
[02:23] Jinshi
    Can you do that quickly?
[02:25] Maomao
    Yes, preparing it takes just one night.
[02:28] Maomao
    It's a bit too dark for you.
[02:31] Jinshi
    If only there was a drug that can change faces.
[02:35] Maomao
    Applying lacquer to your face would do it.
[02:38] Maomao
    But that would be permanent.
[02:41] Jinshi
    Sounds about right.
[02:42] Maomao
    If you want to pretend to be a commoner,
[02:46] Maomao
    that can be managed.
[02:48] Jinshi
    Do that for me, then.
[02:50] Jinshi
    I want to look like a completely
    different person.
[02:56] Maomao
    I wonder what he's up to.
[03:01] Maomao
    That said...
[03:04] Maomao
    If I'm doing it, I'm going all the way!
SIGN    Episode 17: A Jaunt Around Town
[03:09] Maomao
    Ugh, so cold.
[03:13] Maomao
    Good morni—
[03:21] Jinshi
    Why the bad mood
    first thing in the morning?
[03:24] Maomao
    Nothing. I'm sure you're
    going to be beautiful all day.
[03:28] Jinshi
    Is that a new form of sarcasm?
[03:30] Maomao
    Master Jinshi, do you really want to
    become a different person?
[03:35] Jinshi
    That's what I said last night.
[03:38] Maomao
    In that case, excuse me.
[03:47] Suiren
    Oh dear!
[03:49] Jinshi
    W-What are you doing, all of a sudden?
[03:51] Maomao
    No commoner burns such expensive incense.
[03:55] Maomao
    Your current outfit is, at best,
    that of a lower-ranking official.
[04:00] Maomao
    The most exquisite incense from overseas
    should not be within your reach.
[04:05] Jinshi
    How do you know this?
[04:07] Maomao
    I've trained my sense of smell to separate
    medicinal and poisonous herbs.
[04:12] Maomao
    Do you know how a brothel
    identifies good customers?
[04:14] Jinshi
    No. Is it body build, clothing,
     and things like that?
[04:17] Maomao
    Those too, but one important thing is smell.
[04:21] Maomao
    Those with multiple showy scents tend to
    be rich but have venereal diseases.
[04:28] Maomao
    Those who smell like livestock
    don't bathe and are unclean.
[04:32] Maomao
    Most new visitors to the Verdigris
    House are shooed away.
[04:37] Jinshi
    Ah.
[04:38] (Flashback) Lakan
    You should direct that inquiry
    to someone who knows that world.
[04:45] Maomao
    Master Gaoshun, can you find
    a new set of clothes?
[04:49] Maomao
    If possible, some that haven't been
    washed yet and still smell.
[04:53] Suiren
    Oh dear.
[04:55] Gaoshun
    Understood.
[04:56] Jinshi
    Hey.
[04:57] Maomao
    While he finds that...
[05:03] Suiren
    What is that?
[05:04] Maomao
    Oil and salt.
[05:06] Maomao
    It dulls the sheen of his hair
    and roughens the texture.
[05:12] Maomao
    Excuse me.
[05:26] Maomao
    That should do.
[05:29] Suiren
    Goodness, must you use
    a fabric scrap to tie it up?
[05:33] Maomao
    Commoners use whatever is
    available, as long as it works.
[05:37] Gaoshun
    Are you sure this is acceptable?
[05:42] Maomao
    Sniff. Sniff sniff sniff.
[05:44] Maomao
    It could be smellier, but this will do.
[05:48] Maomao
    Master Jinshi, please take your clothes off.
[05:51] Jinshi
    S-Sure.
[05:56] Maomao
    Even though he's like a heavenly maiden,
    he has a well-balanced, muscular physique.
[06:04] Maomao
    May I use those towels?
[06:06] Suiren
    Of course, but for what?
[06:09] Maomao
    I'm going to alter his build.
[06:12] Maomao
    Would you both mind helping me a bit?
[06:17] Maomao
    Master Gaoshun, over there, please.
[06:19] Gaoshun
    Yes.
[06:20] Maomao
    Lady Suiren, please take this side.
[06:22] Suiren
    Understood.
[06:23] Maomao
    Now, with clothes on top of that...
[06:27] Suiren
    My goodness.
[06:28] Jinshi
    Wow.
[06:30] Maomao
    Having Master Jinshi's face on that
    awkward body is quite strange.
[06:36] Maomao
    Next is the face.
[06:37] Jinshi
    Huh?
[06:39] Maomao
    I mixed several dark-colored shades.
[06:42] Maomao
    I'll use them to make a suntanned
    complexion, like a commoner.
[06:47] Maomao
    Close your eyes, please.
[06:48] Jinshi
    Yeah.
[06:53] Maomao
    So needlessly beautiful, even to the touch.
[06:56] Maomao
    Not a trace of facial hair,
    nor any pores for that matter.
[06:59] Maomao
    If I applied feminine makeup
    on him, I wonder...
[07:07] Maomao
    Here it is, the one that Meimei forced on me.
[07:11] Jinshi
    Hey, will this take much longer?
[07:13] Maomao
    Please close your lips,
    but don't purse too hard.
[07:16] Jinshi
    Huh? Right...
[07:27] Jinshi
    What's wrong?
[07:29] Maomao
    I'm glad we were alone here.
[07:31] Maomao
    If anyone else were here,
    it would have been a disaster.
[07:35] Jinshi
    Hey, is something the matter?
[07:38] Maomao
    No, there's nothing.
[07:40] Jinshi
    That hurt! What happened?
[07:42] Maomao
    Nothing happened.
[07:43] Gaoshun
    Nothing at all.
[07:44] Suiren
    Right, nothing happened.
[07:47] Maomao
    Back on track.
[07:49] Maomao
    Use makeup to paint blotches on the face.
[07:52] Maomao
    Add circles under the eyes with dark colors.
[07:55] Maomao
    Add some moles, and draw over
    the eyebrows to change their shape.
[08:02] Maomao
    The remaining makeup can be applied to
    other body parts to make the skin blotchy.
[08:07] Maomao
    Push some under the fingernails
    to make the hands look unclean.
[08:10] Maomao
    Solid, manly hands.
[08:12] Maomao
    I guess he can't have beautiful lady hands...
[08:15] Maomao
    Hmm? He has calluses.
[08:18] Maomao
    What does he use other than
    brushes and chopsticks?
[08:21] Maomao
    Does he train in sword or polearm fighting?
[08:25] Maomao
    Not something a eunuch
    usually needs to do, but...
[08:28] Maomao
    Well, there's no need to ask
    such a silly question.
[08:33] Jinshi
    Wow, that looks dirty.
[08:36] Maomao
    Please.
[08:38] Jinshi
    A drink?
[08:43] Jinshi
    Whoa! What is this?
[08:45] Maomao
    Please drink it slowly, licking it
    like you're wetting your lips.
[08:49] Maomao
    It will make your lips and throat
    swell, to change your voice.
[08:52] Suiren
    What is it made of?
[08:53] Maomao
    Several different irritants.
[08:56] Maomao
    It's very spicy, but don't worry,
    it's not poison.
[09:05] Maomao
    Drink all of it.
[09:11] Maomao
    The final touch.
[09:14] Maomao
    Cotton.
[09:15] Maomao
    Please fill your cheeks with it
    to change your face shape.
[09:22] Maomao
    It's finished.
[09:29] Suiren
    Wow, young master, is that really you?
[09:31] Jinshi
    Please don't call me that.
[09:35] Maomao
    And yet he's still pretty handsome.
[09:38] Maomao
    Must be hard to have such natural beauty.
[09:40] Maomao
    Anyway, I did the best that I could.
[09:46] Maomao
    Now, time to head home! It's been too long.
[09:50] Gaoshun
    Xiaomao, you said you'll
     be returning home today, yes?
[09:53] Maomao
    Yes, I've been granted leave until tomorrow—
[09:57] Maomao
    I haven't seen him make that face before.
[10:02] Gaoshun
    In that case, Master Jinshi's
    destination is on your way.
[10:07] Maomao
    Yikes!
[10:08] Gaoshun
    Even with his disguise, it would be
    suspicious if he had his usual companions.
[10:14] Suiren
    Oh, that's true.
[10:17] Gaoshun
    Don't you agree, Master Jinshi?
[10:20] Jinshi
    You're right.
[10:23] Jinshi
    It would be great if you could come along.
[10:25] Maomao
    No! Master Jinshi likes the idea, too!
[10:27] Maomao
    Unfortunately, I don't think it would
    improve matters much if I w-were there...
[10:33] Maomao
    Perhaps having a bland attendant accompany
    a bland master would look natural,
[10:38] Maomao
    but I am also known to be
     your personal servant...
[10:42] Gaoshun
    I think it would be fine.
[10:44] Suiren
    In that case, why don't you also
    wear a disguise, Xiaomao?
[10:47] Maomao
    Huh?
[10:48] Gaoshun
    That's a fine idea!
[10:50] Suiren
    I have all the tools for putting on makeup.
[10:55] Maomao
    But...
[10:56] Suiren
    You just have to look completely different
    from your usual appearance, right?
[11:00] Maomao
    Ugh...
[11:00] Suiren
    Right?
[11:02] Maomao
    Y-Yes...
[11:05] Maomao
    I have such a bad feeling about this...
[11:14] Maomao
    Master Jinshi, your posture is too graceful.
[11:18] Jinshi
    You stop addressing me so formally, too.
[11:20] Jinshi
    Also, don't say my name.
    That would ruin everything.
[11:23] Maomao
    Then what should I call you?
[11:26] Jinshi
    Let's see...
[11:28] Jinshi
    You can call me Jinka, my lady.
[11:33] Maomao
    Huh?
[11:35] Jinshi
    I believe that would be appropriate,
    given our appearances.
[11:39] Maomao
    True, this outfit belongs
    to Lady Suiren's daughter.
[11:44] Maomao
    Both the fabric and design are nice.
    Doesn't look outdated or anything.
[11:47] Maomao
    I suppose I could come off as
    a young lady from a good family.
[11:55] Maomao
    Why is he enjoying this so much?
[12:01] Gaoshun
    Here is the map. For Xiaomao...
[12:05] Jinshi
    I will take care of the young lady.
[12:09] Gaoshun
    Please.
[12:15] Maomao
    Well, Master Jinka...
[12:18] Maomao
    Hmm?
[12:21] Maomao
    Jinka.
[12:23] Jinka
    Yes, my lady!
[12:26] Maomao
    Your posture is too straight.
[12:34] Maomao
    "Jinka," huh? Not the strangest of pseudonyms.
[12:38] Maomao
    But to use the character "ka,"
    for flower, in the name?
[12:42] Maomao
    I guess "Jinshi" isn't a very manly
    name to begin with, but still.
[12:47] Maomao
    Maybe I should have made him
    dress up as a woman, after all.
[12:52] Maomao
    No, I can't do that, if I want to
    maintain peace in our realm.
[12:57] Maomao
    Where are we headed?
[13:00] Jinshi
    A restaurant just outside
     the pleasure district.
[13:02] Jinshi
    I'm meeting an acquaintance there.
[13:10] Basen
    Why do I have to be the bodyguard?
[13:14] Basen
    And while hidden? Why would—
[13:27] Maomao
    The attendant walking in front of
    the mistress? He has a lot to learn.
[13:31] Maomao
    Jinka.
[13:33] Jinshi
    Apologies, my lady.
[13:36] Maomao
    Good.
[13:41] Maomao
    Not many leafy vegetables yet,
    given the season.
[13:44] Maomao
    Hmm?
[13:47] Maomao
    Now that I have my allowance,
[13:49] Maomao
    perhaps I'll get a chicken too,
    and boil them together.
[13:52] Jinshi
    Grocery shopping?
[13:54] Jinshi
    In that outfit?
[14:04] Maomao
    I wanted to feed my dad.
[14:07] Maomao
    He is an impressive doctor
    and apothecary, second to none.
[14:14] Maomao
    But for some reason, he has absolutely
    no sense of profit or loss.
[14:18] Maomao
    That's why he lives in that miserable shack,
    despite having what should be
[14:22] Maomao
    a lucrative profession.
[14:26] Maomao
    If he were on the verge of starvation,
[14:28] Maomao
    the old lady would probably
    force-feed him something, but...
[14:42] Maomao
    What is it?
[14:43] Jinshi
    Why are you so silent?
[14:45] Maomao
    Because there's nothing to discuss?
[14:51] Maomao
    Was that the wrong answer?
[14:56] Maomao
    Hmm? This smell!
[14:57] Maomao
    Chicken skewers!
[14:59] Maomao
    Wait here a moment!
[15:02] Maomao
    Mister, two skewers please!
[15:04] Street Merchant
    Gotcha!
[15:07] Maomao
    Here. Eat it before it gets cold.
[15:14] Jinshi
    Sure.
[15:20] Maomao
    The savory skin, the tasty fat...
[15:23] Maomao
    You can't get this in the palace.
[15:26] Maomao
    Aren't you going to eat it?
[15:28] Maomao
    As you can see, no poison.
[15:31] Jinshi
    No, I...
[15:32] Maomao
    Ah.
[15:34] Maomao
    Here.
[15:45] Maomao
    How is it?
[15:46] Jinshi
    Yeah, it's better than I remember
     at camp. The salt is good.
[15:51] Maomao
    Camp? I thought that type of thing
    was for soldiers, not eunuchs.
[15:58] Maomao
    He really does seem to be enjoying it.
[16:04] Suiren
    Oh, welcome back, Gaoshun.
[16:07] Suiren
    Please don't touch the suitcase.
    I just applied persimmon tannin to it.
[16:13] Suiren
    The young master's toys are
    full of memories, aren't they?
[16:17] Gaoshun
    Yes.
[16:18] Suiren
    So, how was he?
[16:21] Gaoshun
    He was extremely pleased.
[16:25] Suiren
    It was a surprisingly good suggestion, for you.
[16:30] Suiren
    Once the young master found
    a favorite toy, he would never let it go.
[16:37] Suiren
    If I hid it, he would cry like
    the world was ending.
[16:41] Suiren
    You worked so hard to find him a new toy
    to get him to settle down somehow.
[16:50] Gaoshun
    Fixating on one thing...
[16:53] Gaoshun
    That is not a luxury that Master
    Jinshi is allowed to have.
[16:58] Jinshi
    Do we have to rush so much?
[17:01] Maomao
    I thought you're meeting someone.
[17:03] Maomao
    Isn't it best to arrive early?
[17:07] Jinshi
    You sound like you want to split
    from me as soon as possible.
[17:11] Maomao
    Do I?
[17:12] Maomao
    True, I do want to split from him and go
    back to buy some radishes and chicken.
[17:18] Jinshi
    Is...
[17:21] Jinshi
    Is life at the palace so bad?
[17:26] Jinshi
    I'd think it's better than life
    out in the pleasure district.
[17:30] Maomao
    It's certainly not bad.
[17:34] Maomao
    I left for work of my own free will,
[17:36] Maomao
    and the room I've been given is quite pretty.
[17:39] Maomao
    However, I worry about my adoptive
    father, who I left all alone.
[17:46] Maomao
    What's wrong?
[17:48] Jinshi
    I just didn't expect you to care about
    anything other than medicine or poison.
[17:54] Maomao
    He's also my teacher in the art of medicine.
[17:56] Maomao
    I need him to stay alive for much longer.
[17:59] Jinshi
    He must be quite the skilled apothecary.
[18:03] Maomao
    He knows not just Eastern medicine,
    but has studied Western medicine, as well.
[18:07] Maomao
    I heard he studied abroad,
    in the west, when he was young.
[18:11] Jinshi
    That must mean he was extremely talented.
[18:15] Jinshi
    Only those chosen by the empire
    are allowed to study abroad.
[18:19] Maomao
    Yes, he's extremely talented.
[18:21] Maomao
    They say heaven only grants
    a person one talent,
[18:23] Maomao
    but there are some who receive more than one.
[18:26] Jinshi
    That's quite impressive.
[18:29] Jinshi
    Why is someone so remarkable working
    as a pleasure district's apothecary?
[18:33] Maomao
    It must be because he's short
     on luck, of all things.
[18:36] Maomao
    He was given two talents, but lost his manhood.
[18:42] Jinshi
    Are you saying your adoptive
    father is a eunuch?
[18:46] Maomao
    Yes.
[18:51] Maomao
    I guess the brothel-style joke didn't land.
[18:55] Maomao
    Apparently, because of his study abroad,
[18:58] Maomao
    he was made a eunuch by the previous empress
    dowager, the former emperor's mother.
[19:04] Jinshi
    Eunuch, apothecary, doctor...
[19:08] Maomao
    Did I fail to mention that?
[19:11] Maomao
    Oh, is that it?
[19:13] Maomao
    An inn upstairs from a restaurant.
[19:16] Middle-Aged Woman
    Come, stop in!
[19:18] Middle-aged Man
    Hey, hey, hey.
[19:20] Maomao
    I see. Now I get why he had to
    disguise himself and everything.
[19:26] Maomao
    In that case, you could have just
    come to the pleasure district.
[19:29] Jinshi
    Huh? What do you mean?
[19:31] Maomao
    Nothing.
[19:34] Jinshi
    Apothecary, do you know the regulars
    at the Verdigris House?
[19:39] Maomao
    Well, the customers that stand out, yes.
[19:43] Jinshi
    Who are they?
[19:44] Maomao
    I can't say. I have a duty of confidentiality.
[19:49] Jinshi
    Then...
[19:52] Jinshi
    How does one decrease
    the value of a courtesan?
[19:57] Maomao
    That's an unpleasant question.
[20:04] Maomao
    There are many different ways,
    especially with high-class courtesans.
[20:09] Maomao
    At the Verdigris House,
[20:10] Maomao
    girls take most of the important
    lessons while working as servants.
[20:13] Maomao
    At that time,
[20:14] Maomao
    they are separated into those with
    beautiful appearances and those without.
[20:18] Maomao
    The latter, after debuting, immediately
    take on customers to sell their bodies.
[20:23] Maomao
    Those with talent, however,
[20:24] Maomao
    are taught tea ceremony and given a higher
     education with which to entertain patrons.
[20:29] Maomao
    Their prices go up and up.
[20:31] Maomao
    Once high enough, they start
    to appear only very rarely.
[20:33] Maomao
    At that point, you get
    a top-ranking courtesan,
[20:36] Maomao
    who costs a year's salary just to have tea with.
[20:39] Maomao
    Some retain their chastity
    until the day they're bought out.
[20:44] Maomao
    Their value comes from their purity.
[20:47] Maomao
    Losing that purity would
     easily halve their value.
[20:51] Maomao
    In addition...
[20:54] Maomao
    A pregnancy would reduce it to nearly nothing.
SIGN    Next Time
[22:46] Narrator
    Next time: "Lakan."
SIGN    Episode 18: Lakan

E18 - Lakan

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
[01:33] Jinshi
    How does one decrease
    the value of a courtesan?
[01:36] Maomao
    A pregnancy would reduce it to nearly nothing.
[01:49] Maomao
    Is that the place you're looking for?
[01:56] Maomao
    Now, if you'll excuse me.
[02:06] Jinshi
    You're leaving now?
[02:08] Maomao
    Me going in there would ruin all
    the work we put into your disguise.
[02:12] Jinshi
    Right...
[02:14] Maomao
    Goodbye.
[02:23] Maomao
    It's fine. I pulled it off
    with no apparent emotion.
[02:36] Maomao
    Enjoy yourself tonight, good sir.
[03:03] Maomao
    A dream of the past...
[03:05] Maomao
    Or rather, from when I was a baby.
SIGN    Episode 18: Lakan
[03:12] Maomao
    I bet it's because I talked about it.
[03:15] Luomen
    Good morning.
[03:18] Maomao
    Morning, Dad.
[03:22] Luomen
    What are your plans for today?
[03:24] Maomao
    Nothing.
[03:26] Luomen
    If you're not busy, can you
    pay a visit to the Verdigris House?
[03:32] Maomao
    Sure.
[03:38] Ukyou
    Hmm? Hey, Maomao. Are you off work?
[03:43] Maomao
    I got a vacation.
[03:47] Ukyou
    You're at the apothecary even on your off day?
[03:51] Maomao
    Just passing by. It's not
    the main reason why I'm here.
[03:54] Old Lady
    Hold it, Pairin!
[03:56] Pairin
    Haven't we discussed this enough by now?
[03:58] Pairin
    Oh? Maomao!
[04:06] Pairin
    Good to see you back!
[04:08] Maomao
    You're suffocating me, Pairin.
[04:10] Pairin
    I'm the one suffocating from our
    old granny nagging me all the time.
[04:13] Old Lady
    I'm not done with you!
    You have to choose one or the other!
[04:17] Pairin
    Really?
[04:18] Maomao
    I don't know what this is about, but it
    looks like Pairin has a lot on her plate, too.
[04:18] Pairin
    Granny, you're so persistent.
[04:20] Old Lady
    It's your fault for not making
     up your mind. Now decide!
[04:23] Old Lady
    Besides, you're the one that's making me
    bring these offers to you by hanging around!
[04:27] Pairin
    I didn't ask! You're always so pushy!
[04:29] Maomao
    Sneak, sneak, sneak.
[04:30] Old Lady
    What do you mean, pushy?!
[04:33] Old Lady
    Hmm? Was Maomao here?
[04:36] Ukyou
    She's been here for a little while.
[04:38] Pairin
    Is she going to the annex?
[04:56] Maomao
    Good morning.
[05:00] Maomao
    She used to hatefully chase me out,
[05:04] Maomao
    but I guess she doesn't
    have the energy anymore.
[05:07] Maomao
    Or perhaps she's forgotten
    how to talk entirely.
[05:11] Maomao
    With her illness worsening,
    her memories are in shreds.
[05:22] Maomao
    Dad's medicine works well, but at this point,
    it won't even provide temporary relief.
[05:28] Maomao
    Still, giving her the medicine is
    the only treatment we can think of.
[05:36] Ukyou
    That customer is back again.
[05:41] Old Lady
    He's got a good nose on him.
[05:44] Old Lady
    Get Meimei in here.
[05:48] Maomao
    The Verdigris House is now
    a reputable establishment,
[05:52] Maomao
    but a decade or so ago,
    it used to operate in shame.
[05:56] Maomao
    This courtesan served
    customers during that era,
[06:00] Maomao
    and was unlucky enough
    to catch syphilis as a result.
[06:06] Maomao
    By the time Dad came to the Verdigris
    House, the illness was in incubation.
[06:13] Maomao
    If he'd known about the illness,
    he might have been able to treat her,
[06:16] Maomao
    but nobody trusted a eunuch
    who suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
[06:26] Maomao
    She had to serve customers.
    There was no other way to live.
[06:28] Maomao
    That was the law of the courtesan.
[06:31] Maomao
    A few years later, when
    the rashes started to reappear,
[06:35] Maomao
    the sores spread almost instantly.
[06:41] Maomao
    Since then, this woman has
    been locked up in this annex,
[06:45] Maomao
    out of sight of the customers.
[06:48] Maomao
    It's quite generous. Courtesans who can't work
    are usually just thrown out into a ditch.
[06:57] Maomao
    This room's pretty stuffy.
    Maybe I'll burn some incense, too.
[07:20] Maomao
    What is it?
[07:21] Servant Girl
    Big Sis told me the weirdo
    with the monocle is here,
[07:26] Servant Girl
    so you shouldn't go out there for now.
[07:29] Maomao
    Right, got it.
[07:42] Maomao
    As long as I stay put, that man
    won't come out here.
[07:46] Maomao
    A long-time customer of the
    Verdigris House, an old acquaintance...
[08:09] Maomao
    Stupid woman.
[08:23] Meimei
    Thanks for being so patient.
     That guy's gone now.
[08:26] Maomao
    Meimei, did you spend time with him?
[08:29] Meimei
    Who else can?
[08:31] Meimei
    Oh, I'm glad Big Sis seems
    to be doing well today.
[08:36] Meimei
    Maomao, you're getting that offer again.
[08:42] Maomao
    I don't see how you put up with him, Sis.
[08:44] Meimei
    It's not so bad. The old lady
    doesn't care as long as he pays up.
[08:49] Maomao
    That's probably why she keeps
    wanting to make me a courtesan.
[08:53] Maomao
    If I didn't have my job,
    I might have been sold off by now.
[08:58] Meimei
    It's a really good deal, from where I'm standing.
[09:01] Meimei
    Do you know how rare it is for
    a courtesan to get everything they want?
[09:06] Maomao
    Since our old lady would easily
    let the weight of silver overrule that.
[09:11] Meimei
    Who can blame her? She's saving up
    for her boat fare to heaven.
[09:18] Meimei
    I'm getting older now.
    I should start taking this seriously.
[09:22] Maomao
    She's not even thirty yet, but as a courtesan,
    that's retirement age already.
[09:28] Maomao
    Why not strike out on your own?
[09:32] Meimei
    Just a while longer.
[09:40] Meimei
    I'll keep working here for just a while longer.
[09:45] Maomao
    I don't know what's going
    through Meimei's mind.
[09:50] Maomao
    It's not a rabbit hole I want to delve into.
[09:52] Maomao
    If it's what everyone knows as love,
[10:05] Maomao
    that's an emotion I'm sure I left behind,
    in the womb of the woman who birthed me.
[10:14] Meimei
    Let me scrub your back.
    Haven't done that in ages.
[10:16] Maomao
    Huh? No thanks.
[10:18] Meimei
    Come on, come on.
[10:22] Pairin
    Yeah, it's been a while!
[10:24] Joka
    Let her do it.
[10:26] Joka
    You're going to be gone again
    for a while, right?
[10:29] Maomao
    Huh?
[10:31] Meimei
    I'm doing this as a freebie, so you have
    to help me find good customers, okay?
[10:51] Jinshi
    I didn't expect the meeting place to
    offer services like in the pleasure district.
[10:56] Jinshi
    That wasn't what I was there for.
[11:13] Jinshi
    Apothecary, do you have a moment?
[11:16] Maomao
    Yes.
[11:17] Jinshi
    Share this with Suiren.
    It's a souvenir from a weirdo.
[11:23] Maomao
    From a weirdo? Thank you.
[11:27] Jinshi
    Yeah.
[11:28] Maomao
    Well then, I'm getting back to work.
[11:39] Suiren
    Oh, dear.
[11:44] Suiren
    We're having a vegetarian dinner today,
[11:46] Suiren
    so Xiaomao, don't eat
    any meat or fish, all right?
[11:52] Suiren
    You're taking a break, but don't
    completely lose consciousness.
[11:57] Maomao
    Right, vegetarian!
[11:59] Maomao
    Dammit, I thought working
    would get my mind off of it.
[12:07] Suiren
    Also.
[12:10] Suiren
    No more hiding weird plants in the warehouse.
[12:14] Maomao
    Yikes. She's sharp.
[12:16] Suiren
    If you can't find anywhere to put it,
[12:18] Suiren
    why don't you ask Master Jinshi to
    let you use one of the vacant rooms?
[12:23] Maomao
    No, I can't use a noble person's
    home as a medicine cabinet.
[12:27] Suiren
    Xiaomao, you appear apathetic,
[12:30] Suiren
    but you're actually very keen when it
    comes to knowing where you stand.
[12:33] Maomao
    I am of lowly birth. It's a small
    miracle that I'm even here.
[12:40] Suiren
    Perhaps.
[12:42] Suiren
    But remember, just because
    a person is of noble birth
[12:45] Suiren
    doesn't make them inherently
    different from the start.
[12:49] Suiren
    Nobody knows how a person's
    life can twist and turn.
[12:54] Suiren
    Separating everything based only on
    status can lead to missed opportunities.
[12:59] Maomao
    Really?
[13:00] Suiren
    Yes, really.
[13:02] Suiren
    Now, back to work.
    Can you run an errand for me?
[13:07] Maomao
    Excuse me!
[13:09] Maomao
    I've come to pick up some medicine!
[13:11] Doctor
    Yes, wait just a moment.
[13:20] Maomao
    This is nothing like the rear palace pharmacy
    that the quack doctor was running!
[13:24] Maomao
    This place is close to the military,
    so they must get a lot of injuries.
[13:29] Maomao
    Ah, this smell that leaves
    a bitter taste in my mouth...
[13:34] Maomao
    I wonder what they have
    in the medicine cabinets?
[13:37] Maomao
    I'd love to rummage through this whole place...
[13:41] Maomao
    No. I must control myself!
[13:44] Suirei
    What are you doing?
[13:49] Maomao
    She's that...
[13:52] Maomao
    Just waiting for some medicine.
[13:56] Doctor
    Suirei!
[13:59] Suirei
    You're here.
[14:01] Suirei
    I'm here to resupply
    the medicines at the guardhouse.
[14:03] Doctor
    Right.
[14:09] Maomao
    The guardhouse?
[14:11] Doctor
    How are you? I'm fine.
[14:11] Maomao
    Come to think of it, the last time
    I saw her was near the military wing.
[14:16] Maomao
    She must smell like herbs
    because she works there.
[14:24] Maomao
    I wonder why she seems to dislike me.
[14:27] Doctor
    Is there anything else you need?
[14:29] Suirei
    No, nothing else.
[14:33] Doctor
    A court lady shouldn't be doing this...
[14:37] Doctor
    F-Forget I said anything!
    You need medicine, right?!
[14:47] Maomao
    I wonder what kind of medicine this is.
[14:53] Maomao
    Lick!
[14:55] Maomao
    Potato flour?
[14:57] Maomao
    This is for Master Jinshi, right?
[15:00] Maomao
    Thinking about it, Master Jinshi
    is pretty mysterious.
[15:04] Maomao
    Not just the work he gets
    assigned every few weeks,
[15:09] Maomao
    but taking long baths the day before,
[15:12] Maomao
    and burning incense before leaving...
[15:15] Maomao
    The vegetarian food, too.
[15:17] Maomao
    It's like a purification ceremony.
[15:19] Maomao
    Are eunuchs allowed to
    perform ceremonial rites?
[15:22] Maomao
    It's not out of place for a noble to do that,
[15:25] Maomao
    but if he's of such high rank,
    why is he a eunuch?
[15:29] Maomao
    Was he also made a eunuch by the unilateral
    decision of the previous empress dowager?
[15:36] Maomao
    Like my dad?
[15:39] Jinshi
    The girl's adopted father
    is a eunuch and former doctor.
[15:43] Gaoshun
    If she studied under a former doctor,
    it explains why she's so knowledgeable, but...
[15:49] Gaoshun
    A eunuch?
[15:50] Jinshi
    Yes.
[15:52] Gaoshun
    Did we ever have such a skilled
    doctor among the eunuchs?
[16:02] Lakan
    Pardon me.
[16:07] Lakan
    Shall we pick up the discussion
    from the other day?
[16:18] Jinshi
    It seems you played quite a few dirty tricks.
[16:22] Lakan
    How rude! I don't want to
    hear that from a thief.
[16:27] Lakan
    I spent a decade convincing that old madam,
[16:32] Lakan
    and you stole her out from under my nose.
[16:36] Jinshi
    So you want your prize returned?
[16:39] Lakan
    No, I'll pay whatever you ask.
[16:42] Lakan
    I'm not keen on repeating my past mistakes.
[16:46] Jinshi
    And if I refuse?
[16:48] Lakan
    Then there's nothing I can do, is there?
[16:52] Lakan
    You can count on one hand the number of
    people who can defy someone as high up as you.
[16:59] Jinshi
    As I thought, he does know who I really am.
[17:02] Lakan
    I'm just concerned about what
    my daughter would think, is all.
[17:09] Jinshi
    Ugh. So that's really what it is.
[17:16] Jinshi
    I don't want to admit it,
[17:18] Jinshi
    but Lakan is Maomao's father by blood.
[17:30] Lakan
    Could you just let her know
    I'll be visiting her sometime?
[17:36] Lakan
    Bye, now.
[17:46] Jinshi
    Apothecary.
[17:48] Maomao
    Yes.
[17:50] Jinshi
    There's an official who wants
    to meet you sometime soon.
[17:53] Maomao
    Who is he?
[17:55] Jinshi
    It's the weirdo I've been telling
    you about. His name is Lakan—
[18:06] Jinshi
    I'll turn him down somehow.
[18:09] Maomao
    Thank you. I'll get back to work now.
[18:17] Jinshi
    I've never seen her make a face like that.
[18:21] Jinshi
    And I never want to see it again.
[18:26] Maomao
    So, he found out.
[18:45] Maomao
    This smell...
[18:46] Maomao
    It's an herb garden!
[18:48] Maomao
    Here! And there! And there, too!
[18:53] Suirei
    You again?
[19:00] Maomao
    Oh, no. This is way too suspicious.
[19:03] Maomao
    Don't worry. I haven't taken anything yet.
[19:06] Suirei
    Is it safe to assume
    from the dirt on your hands
[19:10] Suirei
    that you were just about to?
[19:16] Suirei
    I'm not trying to punish you.
[19:19] Suirei
    This is an unofficial garden, anyway.
[19:21] Suirei
    But the doctors know about this place too,
[19:24] Suirei
    so I'd advise against frequent visits.
[19:27] Maomao
    Are you in charge of this place?
[19:30] Suirei
    Who knows? I'm just allowed
    to plant what I want here.
[19:35] Maomao
    She's pulling up the weeds.
[19:39] Maomao
    Suirei, I think her name was?
[19:42] Maomao
    Not that I'm one to talk,
    but she doesn't seem very excitable.
[19:49] Maomao
    What are you planting?
[19:56] Suirei
    A medicine to resurrect someone.
[19:59] Maomao
    Is that...?!
[20:01] Maomao
    A medicine that can bring
    the dead back to life...
[20:04] Maomao
    If such a thing exists,
    I want it more than anything!
[20:10] Suirei
    Just kidding.
[20:12] Maomao
    A joke...
[20:13] Suirei
    I heard you're an apothecary.
    Just how good are you?
[20:20] Maomao
    I don't know.
[20:27] Suirei
    A little while from now, I'll be
    planting some morning glories here.
[20:42] Suirei
    Goodbye.
SIGN    Next Time
[22:46] Narrator
    Next time: "Chance or
    Something More."
SIGN    Episode 19: Chance or Something More

E19 - Chance or Something More

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
[01:31] Gaoshun
    Also, regarding today's schedule,
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
[01:34] Gaoshun
    there will be a medium
    ceremony in the afternoon.
[01:37] Jinshi
    Yeah...
[01:45] Gaoshun
    I think I know what's on your mind.
[01:49] Gaoshun
    But please, don't forget about work.
[01:52] Jinshi
    I know.
SIGN    Episode 19: Chance or Something More
[02:00] Maomao
    Master Lihaku, what's wrong?
[02:03] Lihaku
    We have a problem.
[02:05] Maomao
    Trouble, is it?
[02:07] Lihaku
    Remember that fire at the warehouse?
[02:10] Maomao
    Ah.
[02:11] Lihaku
    Apparently, a thief broke in to a different
    warehouse on the same day.
[02:16] Lihaku
    I'm sure they were taking advantage
     of all the chaos at the time.
[02:20] Maomao
    A looting. What got stolen?
[02:27] Maomao
    Not something to discuss openly, it seems.
[02:29] Maomao
    Sneak.
[02:35] Lihaku
    Ceremonial tools. And not just one.
[02:39] Maomao
    Were they being managed that haphazardly?
[02:42] Lihaku
    Well, I don't really know.
[02:45] Lihaku
    There's no knowledgeable
     managers right now.
[02:48] Lihaku
    The last one passed away last year.
[02:50] Maomao
    What about the current manager?
    He must know the basics, right?
[02:54] Lihaku
    Well, he got food poisoning awhile back.
[02:59] Maomao
    Food poisoning?
[03:01] Lihaku
    His favorite seaweed made him
     sick and he hasn't woken up.
[03:05] Lihaku
    He can't come back to work. Trouble, right?
[03:09] Maomao
    Where have I heard that before?
[03:12] Maomao
    Was it that official who likes rare foods?
[03:16] Lihaku
    How did you know?
[03:18] Maomao
    A lot happened.
[03:20] Maomao
    Theft at the time of a fire.
[03:23] Maomao
    The warehouse manager is missing
    due to food poisoning.
[03:28] Maomao
    It's a bit too suspicious to be a coincidence.
[03:31] Maomao
    Who was the manager who passed away last year?
[03:35] Lihaku
    Hmm. I remember that he was
    famous for being really by-the-book.
[03:40] Lihaku
    I forgot his name. I remember he had
    a sweet tooth and things like that, but...
[03:45] Maomao
    Was it Master Kounen, by chance?
[03:49] Lihaku
    Oh, that's it! Hey, how'd you know?
[03:54] Maomao
    A lot happened.
[03:56] Maomao
    Master Jinshi told me about the
    tough official with a sweet tooth.
[04:01] Maomao
    The man who died of salt overdose.
[04:04] Maomao
    These are all coincidental?
[04:07] Maomao
    Each incident looks like an accident,
[04:10] Maomao
    but if they were all done
    in pursuit of some goal...
[04:15] Maomao
    So, what can I do for you?
[04:18] Lihaku
    Right! The main point.
[04:20] Lihaku
    Remember this? You gave it to me back then.
[04:23] Maomao
    Ah, from the fire.
[04:25] Lihaku
    I tried to give it back,
    but the owner declined.
[04:29] Lihaku
    He doesn't want it anymore.
[04:31] Maomao
    It seems very expensive.
    I assumed it was important.
[04:35] Lihaku
    Apparently, he got it from some court lady.
[04:39] Maomao
    From a court lady?
[04:40] Lihaku
    Sounds weird, right?
[04:42] Lihaku
    Why give this to a random warehouse guard?
[04:48] Lihaku
    Apparently, the guard escorted
    the court lady outside the castle,
[04:52] Lihaku
    because she was walking alone in the dark.
[04:56] Lihaku
    She gave him this pipe as a token of gratitude.
[04:59] Maomao
    Receiving such an expensive item might
    compel him to use it right away.
[05:06] Maomao
    Start a fire to divert the guards' attention,
[05:09] Maomao
    and break into another warehouse.
[05:11] Maomao
    If the court lady gave the guard
    the pipe for that purpose...
[05:17] Maomao
    Master Lihaku, about that court lady...
[05:19] Lihaku
    Yeah, I tried to get the details about her.
[05:22] Lihaku
    But she was wearing a scarf
    that hid her face, apparently.
[05:26] Maomao
    Maybe she was hiding her face intentionally.
[05:30] Lihaku
    Yeah.
[05:31] Lihaku
    But she was "quite tall for a woman,
     and smelled like medicine."
[05:38] Lihaku
    I know it's not you, given the height.
[05:42] Lihaku
    Can you think of anyone else?
[05:45] Maomao
    A tall court lady smelling of medicine...
[05:50] (Flashback) Luomen
    Don't speak based purely on conjecture.
[05:54] Maomao
    Were there any more strange incidents
    other than the events we mentioned?
[06:00] Lihaku
    Hmm. I can't say...
[06:03] Lihaku
    Do you think there's something to find out here?
[06:06] Maomao
    There could be.
[06:09] Maomao
    Or there might not.
[06:11] Lihaku
    Which is it?
[06:15] Maomao
    Two coincidences can often
     occur simultaneously.
[06:19] Maomao
    Three at once isn't that rare, either.
[06:23] Maomao
    But when several of them pile up
[06:26] Maomao
    and become clearly intentional...
[06:29] Maomao
    What if a person who fits the description
    of a tall court lady appeared here?
[06:36] Maomao
    This way, even if Suirei's name
    comes up, it has nothing to do with me.
[06:43] Lihaku
    Wow, you're a lot smarter than you look!
[06:48] Maomao
    Conversely, Master Lihaku, you're as big
     a brute as you look, so please go easy on me.
[06:56] Jinshi
    Looks like fun.
[06:59] Jinshi
    Looks like fun.
[07:02] Maomao
    There's nothing fun here.
[07:05] Lihaku
    I'll take my leave!
[07:11] Jinshi
    You seem very close to that officer.
[07:14] Maomao
    Do I?
[07:16] Maomao
    He just came to talk to me
    about some concerns he had.
[07:22] Maomao
    I can't say for certain that this has
    nothing to do with Master Jinshi.
[07:29] Maomao
    May I explain the details to you?
[07:34] Jinshi
    What a strange way they connect.
[07:37] Maomao
    Yes.
[07:38] Jinshi
    So, what do you think is behind them?
[07:41] Maomao
    I don't know.
[07:42] Maomao
    None of those incidents are certainties.
[07:45] Maomao
    It's more like setting several traps in
    the hopes that some of them work out.
[07:50] Jinshi
    In that case, do you think
    there are other traps?
[07:54] Maomao
    I can't say for certain.
[07:57] Maomao
    It's hard to determine which are
    accidents and which were plotted.
[08:01] Maomao
    It's still possible that these
    are all just coincidences.
[08:09] Jinshi
    You're not excited?
[08:11] Maomao
    Excited?
[08:15] Maomao
    I'm just a servant. I only do what I am told.
[08:20] Jinshi
    Hmm.
[08:23] Jinshi
    In that case, how about this?
[08:26] Jinshi
    The other day, I visited the trader.
[08:30] Jinshi
    He told me there's
    an interesting item in stock.
SIGN    Ox bezoar
[08:35] Jinshi
    This is what it was called.
[08:38] Maomao
    Ox bezoar, a medicinal gallstone from a cow!
[08:41] Maomao
    The most exquisite medicine
    only found in one in a thousand cows!
[08:45] Maomao
    Are you going to give me that?!
SIGN    Ox Bezoar
[08:48] Maomao
    Really?!
SIGN    Ox Bezoar
[08:49] Maomao
    You'd better not be lying!
[08:53] Jinshi
    Do you want it?
[08:54] Maomao
    I do!
[08:55] Gaoshun
    Xiaomao.
[09:03] Maomao
    Excuse me.
[09:06] Jinshi
    Looks like you're excited now.
[09:08] Maomao
    Will you really give me this?
SIGN    Ox bezoar
[09:10] Jinshi
    Depends on how well you work.
    I'll keep you updated.
[09:14] Maomao
    Understood.
[09:16] Maomao
    As you wish, Master Jinshi!
[09:18] Jinshi
    And so, Gaoshun, take care of it!
[09:26] Maomao
    This is the incident from the other day.
[09:29] Maomao
    The officer who got food poisoning
    was from the Board of Rites.
[09:33] Maomao
    Which one was the Board of Rites, again?
    The education and foreign affairs one...?
[09:40] Maomao
    If only I'd studied for
    the court lady exams properly...
[09:44] Officer
    I'll leave these here.
[09:47] Maomao
    Thank you.
[09:49] Officer
    No problem. Feel free to ask me
    if you have any questions.
[09:53] Maomao
    Um, what does this division do?
[09:56] Officer
    Hmm?
[09:58] Officer
    They deal with ceremonies.
[10:01] Maomao
    Ceremonies?
[10:06] Maomao
    Do you have anything to write with?
[10:08] Officer
    Huh? Y-Yeah.
[10:10] Maomao
    Ceremonies, ceremonies...
[10:13] Maomao
    The food-poisoned official and Master Kounen
    were both were related to ceremonies.
[10:18] Maomao
    If the incident with the pipe was
    a way to help steal ceremonial tools...
[10:24] Maomao
    These events, disguised
    as coincidences, must line up
[10:27] Maomao
    to form an intentional incident, somewhere.
[10:30] Maomao
    If someone went through so much
    trouble to steal ceremonial tools,
[10:34] Maomao
    it has to be a ceremony of some importance.
[10:38] Maomao
    Medium or higher, most likely.
[10:40] Maomao
    I should find out when all
    of these ceremonies take place.
[10:44] Maomao
    Come to think of it, Master Jinshi
    did purify himself often.
[10:48] Officer
    If you're interested in ceremonies,
    here's something good.
[10:56] Maomao
    Is this a picture of a ceremonial building?
[10:59] Officer
    Yes. It's at the west end of the outer
    court, and called the Altar of the Sapphire Sky.
[11:04] Officer
    Quite an interesting design, don't you think?
[11:07] Officer
    There's a large pillar
    hanging from the ceiling.
[11:12] Officer
    There are these banners
    hanging above the central altar.
[11:16] Officer
    They lower the pillar to
    add festive texts every time.
[11:20] Maomao
    You're very knowledgeable.
[11:22] Officer
    Yeah. I'm ashamed to admit it, but
    before I got assigned to the archives,
[11:26] Officer
    I was doing more important
    work at the Board of Rites.
[11:29] Officer
    I talked back to my superiors once,
    and got demoted to this role.
[11:35] Officer
    I used to be worried about the build
    strength, but I'm glad to know it's fine.
[11:40] Maomao
    What are you talking about?
[11:42] Officer
    You see how the pillar is hanging
    from the ceiling like this, right?
[11:46] Officer
    It's big, so I was worried
    about it falling down.
[11:51] Officer
    When I voiced my concerns
     about the parts' strength,
[11:53] Officer
    it got me sent to this place.
[11:57] Maomao
    That is indeed scary.
[12:00] Maomao
    If the metal parts fixing the pillar in
    place broke, and the pillar fell...
[12:07] Maomao
    The person directly underneath performing
    the ceremony would be at the highest risk.
[12:11] Maomao
    Someone of truly noble birth could be lost.
[12:16] Maomao
    Strength issue... Strength...
[12:19] Maomao
    What was the stolen ceremonial tool, anyway?
[12:23] Maomao
    If something so important went missing,
    surely they'd make a new one.
[12:28] Maomao
    Make a new one...
[12:32] Maomao
    Excuse me!
[12:33] Maomao
    When is the next ceremony
    taking place at this venue?!
[12:36] Officer
    When? Well...
[12:39] Officer
    Oh, today, actually.
[12:49] Maomao
    If my predictions are correct, this is a plan
    that was concocted over a long period of time.
[12:56] Maomao
    Not every piece is likely to work.
[12:58] Maomao
    But by placing numerous traps everywhere,
    some are bound to work and overlap.
[13:02] Maomao
    And finally, it connected to this.
[13:09] Maomao
    It's just conjecture on my part.
[13:12] Maomao
    But if I happen to be correct...
[13:19] Maomao
    There!
[13:28] Military Officer 1
    Hey!
[13:30] Military Officer 1
    What are you doing?!
[13:33] Maomao
    I need to get inside!
[13:34] Military Officer 1
    No.
[13:35] Maomao
    This is an emergency!
[13:37] Military Officer 1
    What right does a servant like you
    have to interject in this ceremony?
[13:42] Maomao
    He's absolutely right. I'm just
    a servant with no authority at all.
[13:47] Maomao
    But if something happens, it'll be too late.
[13:51] Maomao
    That's always the case with
    things that can't be undone.
[13:55] Maomao
    There are lives at risk.
    Please stop the ceremony.
[13:59] Military Officer 1
    That's not a decision for you to make.
[14:01] Military Officer 1
    If you have something to say,
    put it in the suggestion box.
[14:06] Maomao
    That will take too long!
[14:08] Military Officer 1
    No!
[14:09] Maomao
    A fatal defect was discovered in the altar!
[14:13] Maomao
    There is reason to suspect
    that someone tampered with it!
[14:16] Maomao
    If you don't let me in now, you'll regret it!
[14:20] Maomao
    If, after listening to my
    warnings, you still reject...
[14:25] Maomao
    Oh, I get it, so that's what it is!
[14:29] Maomao
    I see. You're obstructing me and
     waiting for the incident to happen!
[14:36] Maomao
    In other words, you're in league
    with the ones who tampered with the—
[14:58] Maomao
    I'm about to lose consciousness.
[15:01] Maomao
    It's only natural for him to get upset,
    hearing a girl talk to him like that.
[15:06] Maomao
    That was intentional, so it's fine.
[15:11] Maomao
    It's no use. This isn't a big enough of
    a commotion to stop the ceremony.
[15:17] Maomao
    I'm fine. I can't lose consciousness now.
[15:25] Maomao
    Do you feel better now?
[15:30] Maomao
    Please let me through.
[15:34] Maomao
    There is a person of the most
    noble birth inside, isn't there?
[15:39] Maomao
    If something happens, you all will
    be the ones to lose your heads.
[15:44] Maomao
    I won't ask you to cancel the ceremony.
[15:47] Maomao
    Please just let me through.
[15:51] Maomao
    Just say a rat got in accidentally.
[15:55] Maomao
    In that case, the only person
    getting beheaded will be me!
[15:59] Military Officer 1
    Why should I trust the words
    of a girl like you?!
[16:02] Lakan
    What about my words, then?
[16:13] Military Officer 1
    S-Sir, you're...
[16:19] Lakan
    Now, why would you strike
    a young girl like that?
[16:26] Lakan
    She's hurt.
[16:31] Lakan
    At any rate, why don't you just
    go ahead and do as the girl says?
[16:36] Lakan
    I'll take responsibility.
[16:39] Maomao
    I don't even want to see who's behind me.
[16:42] Maomao
    It's perfect timing, as if
    everything was planned...
[16:45] Maomao
    No, I can't concern myself with that right now.
[16:48] Maomao
    It doesn't matter who this voice belongs to.
[16:58] Maomao
    I must look terrible.
[17:00] Maomao
    I'll ask Master Gaoshun after all this is done,
[17:03] Maomao
    and take a nice, long bath.
[17:06] Maomao
    But first,
[17:09] Maomao
    I have to avoid getting beheaded.
[17:56] Maomao
    I made it...
[18:05] Maomao
    Gotta stitch that...
[18:08] Jinshi
    Hey.
[18:14] Jinshi
    What's going on here?
[18:18] Maomao
    Master Jinshi...
[18:22] Maomao
    Can I have the ox bezoar now?
[18:26] Jinshi
    This isn't the time for that.
[18:30] Jinshi
    What's happened with your face?
[18:36] Maomao
    Why is Master Jinshi here...?
[18:42] Maomao
    What's that look on his face?
[18:50] Maomao
    Sorry, I need to stitch up my leg first—
[18:55] Jinshi
    H-Hey!
[18:58] Jinshi
    Hey, wake up!
[19:01] Jinshi
    Wake up! Hey!
[19:04] Jinshi
    Hey! Stay with me.
[19:06] Jinshi
    Hey!
SIGN    Next Time
[22:46] Narrator
    Next time: "Thornapple."
SIGN    Episode 20: Thornapple

E20 - Thornapple

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
[01:37] Maomao
    Sandalwood incense...
[01:40] Maomao
    Master Jinshi's bedroom...
[01:43] Maomao
    How did I end up here...?
[01:53] Suiren
    Oh, you're awake.
[01:57] Suiren
    Don't push yourself.
[01:59] Suiren
    You had fifteen stitches.
[02:01] Suiren
    Master Jinshi brought you here,
    since it's better here than at the infirmary.
[02:07] Suiren
    Here you go.
[02:09] Maomao
    Thank you.
[02:15] Suiren
    I'm sorry to bother you after you just
    woke up, but can you get dressed?
[02:19] Suiren
    I want to bring everyone in.
[02:22] Maomao
    Understood.
[02:24] Basen
    What in the world is going on?!
[02:27] Gaoshun
    Basen!
SIGN    Episode 20: Thornapple
[02:29] Maomao
    I mean, his master's life was at risk.
[02:33] Maomao
    That said, I don't deserve to be yelled at.
[02:39] Maomao
    I apologize for my lack of manners.
[02:42] Jinshi
    Don't worry about it.
[02:43] Jinshi
    So, how did you end up there,
[02:47] Jinshi
    and how did you know
    the pillar was about to fall?
[02:50] Jinshi
    Do explain.
[02:54] Maomao
    Understood.
[02:56] Maomao
    That was an accident caused by
    multiple coincidences converging.
[03:00] Maomao
    But it's as if the coincidences
    were drawn together intentionally.
[03:04] Maomao
    In that sense, it's a conspiracy,
    not an accident.
[03:09] Maomao
    The first coincidence is
    the death of Master Kounen,
[03:11] Maomao
    a high-ranking official
    at the Board of Rites, last year.
[03:18] Maomao
    Next, the fire at a warehouse,
[03:21] Maomao
    and the theft of some ceremonial tools
    at a different warehouse.
[03:27] Maomao
    And the third is the manager
    of ceremonial tools
[03:30] Maomao
    falling ill due to food poisoning
    at around the same time.
[03:37] Jinshi
    Those were all caused
     intentionally by someone?
[03:41] Maomao
    Probably.
[03:43] Maomao
    There's also probably
    one more important factor.
[03:46] Jinshi
    What is it?
[03:48] Maomao
    The stolen ceremonial tools.
[03:50] Maomao
    During the ceremony, the pillar above
    the altar was pulled up by metal wires,
[03:54] Maomao
    and fixed on to the floor with metal parts.
[03:58] Maomao
    If the goal was to make this
    appear as an accident,
[04:00] Maomao
    aiming for those metal parts would be effective.
[04:04] Basen
    If someone stole those,
    they'd just make replacements!
[04:07] Maomao
    Of course they did.
[04:11] Maomao
    Since they're used in ceremonies,
    I'm sure the design was elaborate.
[04:15] Maomao
    I can think of one artisan
    who might have been tasked with it.
[04:19] Jinshi
    The metalworker who passed away?
[04:21] Maomao
    Yes. The stolen ceremonial pieces
    were rebuilt by the metalworker.
[04:28] Maomao
    So, what if those metal parts were
    designed to break when heated?
[04:36] Basen
    Idiot! What kind of metal would...
[04:44] Maomao
    Using the late metalworker's secret technique,
[04:48] Maomao
    the metal could be made to melt
    just by being near an open fire.
[04:53] Jinshi
    Are you saying the metalworker
    was part of this conspiracy?
[04:57] Maomao
    No, I think he didn't know anything,
[05:00] Maomao
    and just built the metal parts as ordered.
[05:04] Maomao
    Perhaps he was asked, "Please build one
    of these, but using that special metal."
[05:10] Maomao
    But if an accident occurs at a ceremony,
    of course the metalworker would have doubts.
[05:15] Maomao
    If the artisan is eliminated
     before the incident,
[05:17] Maomao
    both the identity of his commissioner
[05:19] Maomao
    and the secret of the easily-melting
     metal vanish with him.
[05:22] Maomao
    That would have been ideal for the mastermind.
[05:25] Jinshi
    Was he killed?
[05:27] Maomao
    That I can't tell.
[05:30] Maomao
    It could be a crime made
    to look like an accident.
[05:35] Maomao
    The customer who had
    the metalworker remake the parts
[05:39] Maomao
    knew the technique that
    made that metal possible.
[05:43] Maomao
    That's all I can say.
[05:46] Jinshi
    Understood.
[05:48] Maomao
    Anyway, who would have thought Master
    Jinshi would be at that ceremony?
[05:53] Maomao
    If that ceremony continued...
[05:58] Maomao
    Who is this guy?
[06:00] Maomao
    If he's someone worth trying to kill
    with such a complicated scheme...
[06:08] Maomao
    Knowing the truth would
    just get me in more trouble.
[06:17] Maomao
    It has nothing to do with me anymore.
[06:29] Suiren
    Xiaomao.
[06:31] Maomao
    Yes.
[06:33] Suiren
    You have a guest.
[06:37] Lihaku
    About that incident. A court lady named
    Suirei had something to do with it...
[06:42] Maomao
    Suirei. I knew it.
[06:44] Lihaku
    They found her corpse.
[06:47] Maomao
    Huh?
[06:51] Lihaku
    When an officer of justice entered her room,
[06:53] Lihaku
    she'd already drunk poison
    and was collapsed on the floor.
[06:56] Lihaku
    The doctors have already finished
    examining her, and she's confirmed dead.
[07:01] Maomao
    What next?
[07:03] Lihaku
    I think they're going to cremate
    her corpse tomorrow, coffin and all.
[07:07] Maomao
    Any other co-conspirators?
[07:09] Lihaku
    Nobody. Just Suirei.
[07:13] Maomao
    She did all of those
    complicated things by herself?
[07:17] Lihaku
    Anyway, it's solved. See ya.
[07:24] Maomao
    She poisoned herself and died?
[07:27] Maomao
    That's really it?
[07:29] Maomao
    No, more importantly,
[07:32] Maomao
    was Suirei the type of person
    to commit suicide?
[07:36] Maomao
    Was she behaving apathetic and unemotional
    because she knew she had no future?
[07:43] Maomao
    But the way she spoke, as if testing me...
[07:47] (Flashback) Suirei
    I'll be planting some morning glories here.
[07:55] Maomao
    Resurrection medicine...
[08:02] Maomao
    I can't leave it as conjecture.
    I have to know for certain!
[08:06] Maomao
    Master Jinshi!
[08:08] Maomao
    I have a request for you!
[08:10] Jinshi
    W-What is it?
[08:15] Maomao
    I'd like to speak to the doctor
    who examined the corpse.
[08:20] Maomao
    At the morgue.
[08:21] Jinshi
    Why are you smiling...?
[08:24] Maomao
    Curiosity got the best of me.
[08:33] Gaoshun
    Master Jinshi, you don't have
    to go in there with her...
[08:36] Jinshi
    If the apothecary is going, I'm going too.
[08:40] Gaohsun
    Understood.
[08:49] Gaoshun
    Xiaomao, here.
[08:52] Maomao
    Thank you.
[08:54] Doctor
    My apologies for the long wait.
[08:57] Maomao
    I knew it. This doctor did the examination.
[09:00] Maomao
    A court lady he seemed close to is dead,
[09:04] Maomao
    and she's accused of crimes on top of that.
[09:06] Maomao
    No surprise he seems worn out.
[09:08] Maomao
    But is that really all?
[09:11] Maomao
    I'll be blunt.
[09:13] Maomao
    Did the poison ingested by
     the court lady include thornapple?
[09:18] Doctor
    That's...
[09:20] Maomao
    The small hill near the stable.
[09:23] Maomao
    Did she not plant thornapple there?
[09:27] Maomao
    It has a strong poison, but in right
    amounts, it can work as an anesthetic.
[09:32] Maomao
    I'm sure the pharmacy stocks plenty.
[09:36] Maomao
    Thornapple looks like a white morning glory.
[09:41] Doctor
    I can't say for certain.
[09:43] Doctor
    It's quite likely, given the symptoms,
    but I can't say for certain.
[09:48] Maomao
    Let's confirm with our own eyes, then.
[10:03] Doctor
    W-What are you doing?!
[10:06] Maomao
    Just shut up and watch!
[10:08] Doctor
    S-Stop!
[10:12] Maomao
    It's open.
[10:18] Doctor
    That's... not Suirei?!
[10:22] Doctor
    It can't be...
[10:25] Doctor
    It was... It really was Suirei...
[10:29] Maomao
    Are you certain it was Suirei?
[10:32] Doctor
    There's no way I'd mistake her.
[10:37] Doctor
    She had no pulse. Her heart wasn't moving.
[10:41] Doctor
    She was so clean.
[10:43] Maomao
    In other words, you've been exploited.
[10:47] Maomao
    You didn't think to cut open her corpse
    to find out what poison she used.
[10:53] Maomao
    That's what Suirei expected.
[10:55] Doctor
    You!
[10:57] Maomao
    It wasn't just thornapple that Suirei took.
[11:01] Maomao
    If we investigated
    the drug stocks at the pharmacy,
[11:04] Maomao
    we should be able to tell what she used.
[11:07] Maomao
    I guess the only thing
    we can fault this doctor for
[11:09] Maomao
    is not keeping track of the drugs properly.
[11:13] Jinshi
    What do you mean?
[11:15] Jinshi
    That the corpse is wrong.
[11:17] Maomao
    Even if the coffin was supposed to be burned,
[11:19] Maomao
    it would be too suspicious if it was empty.
[11:22] Maomao
    She must have placed a different corpse
    in a new coffin to replace her.
[11:28] Jinshi
    Then what about Suirei's corpse?
[11:30] Jinshi
    Carrying it out would have caused a scene.
[11:32] Maomao
    There's no need to carry it out.
[11:35] Jinshi
    What do you mean?
[11:44] Maomao
    She walked out by herself.
[11:47] Jinshi
    But wasn't she dead?!
[11:50] Maomao
    There is a certain drug that can
    make a person appear dead.
[11:53] Maomao
    Are you aware of it?
[11:54] Doctor
    I've heard about it, but that's just fantasy.
[11:58] Jinshi
    What is it like?
[12:00] Maomao
    That drug, which is said
    to exist in a faraway land,
[12:03] Maoamo
    is able to kill a person,
    then resurrect them later.
[12:08] Maomao
    I don't know the details,
[12:10] Maomao
    but I've heard thornapple and
    pufferfish are used as ingredients.
[12:18] Gaoshun
    Xiaomao?
[12:19] Maomao
    Master Gaoshun, could you
    investigate the empty coffins?
[12:23] Gaoshun
    Yes.
[12:32] Gaoshun
    Fingernail marks.
[12:34] Maomao
    That must have been the one
    with the dead Suirei in it.
[12:38] Maomao
    By the time her rescuer arrived to open it,
[12:43] Maomao
    she came back to life.
[12:45] Maomao
    They set up a different coffin
    with another corpse to replace it,
[12:48] Maomao
    then disguised her as a vendor to walk out.
[12:54] Jinshi
    They employed such a risky method?
[12:58] Maomao
    If she got caught, she'd get executed anyway.
[13:01] Maomao
    I'd take that bet any day.
[13:03] Jinshi
    I think with you, it would be different...
[13:06] Maomao
    Since there's no corpse here,
    Suirei must have won her bet.
[13:11] Maomao
    If the replacement corpse got burned,
    it would have been a complete victory, but...
[13:17] Maomao
    Not on my watch.
[13:21] Maomao
    If she's still alive, I'd like to meet her.
[13:24] Maomao
    Not to arrest her.
[13:26] Maomao
    The intellect that allowed her to make
    so many crimes look like accidents.
[13:29] Maomao
    The courage she had to pull it all off.
[13:32] Maomao
    Most of all, the nerves of steel it took
    to bet her own life to trick us all!
[13:40] Maomao
    A person like that dying so
    soon would be such a loss!
[13:47] Maomao
    Medicine to bring people back to life!
    She will teach me how to make it!
[13:58] Maomao
    Pardon me.
[13:59] Jinshi
    W-What is it?!
[14:02] Maomao
    Can we get my leg stitched up again?
[14:04] Maomao
    I think the wound reopened.
[14:06] Jinshi
    Say that sooner!
[14:15] Lady-in-Waiting
    Lady Loulan.
[14:32] Jinshi
    We ended up taking care of
    the Suirei incident in secret.
[14:37] Jinshi
    Many things remain unclear
    about the court lady Suirei.
[14:42] Jinshi
    According to the doctor,
    she was backed by his teacher.
[14:47] Jinshi
    He took note of her talents a few years ago
    and brought her in as an adopted daughter.
[14:52] Jinshi
    Not much is known about her past before then.
[14:56] Jinshi
    This is going to take a long time.
[15:01] Gaoshun
    I helped Xiaomao get home.
[15:04] Jinshi
    Sorry to trouble you, as always.
[15:06] Gaoshun
    We can't let her open up her wound again.
[15:10] Jinshi
    Yes.
[15:11] Jinshi
    But it's not just her wound that worries me.
[15:15] Jinshi
    There's also the matter with Lakan, the weirdo.
[15:20] Jinshi
    It's clear that he's her father,
[15:23] Jinshi
    but given the apothecary's attitude,
    there must be some issues there.
[15:30] Jinshi
    To the rear palace tomorrow, right?
[15:32] Gaoshun
    Yes.
[15:36] Gaoshun
    There seems to be no problem.
    It's the same as always.
[15:40] Jinshi
    Meaning it tastes bad.
[15:46] Gaoshun
    You don't have to drink it
    if you don't like it.
[15:49] Jinshi
    It's a responsibility of mine, as a eunuch.
[15:52] Gaoshun
    You shouldn't hold your nose
    like that in public.
[15:56] Gaoshun
    It makes you look very young.
[15:58] Jinshi
    I know.
[16:00] Jinshi
    Refined mannerisms, heavenly
    smiles, and a voice like honey.
[16:06] Jinshi
    The "twenty-four-year-old" man who became
    a eunuch when the rear palace
[16:10] Jinshi
    became the current emperor's, five years ago.
[16:12] Jinshi
    That's "Jinshi."
[16:15] Jinshi
    From the day I decided to wear this mask,
[16:18] Jinshi
    I've been drinking this medicine
    to suppress my manhood every day.
[16:22] Gaoshun
    It will make you actually impotent one day.
[16:28] Jinshi
    Hey, same with you!
[16:30] Gaoshun
    My children are adults now.
    I even have another grandchild.
[16:36] Jinshi
    A grandchild? From your older son?
[16:39] Gaoshun
    Yes. My youngest son is ready
     to get married too, but...
[16:44] Jinshi
    By youngest, you mean Basen? He's only nineteen.
[16:48] Gaoshun
    Yes, nineteen, just like you.
[16:53] Jinshi
    "Jinshi the eunuch" is twenty-four.
[16:58] Jinshi
    Your look is telling me to
    find a wife and end this work.
[17:04] Gaoshun
    I'd like to have time to
     spend with my grandchild.
[17:07] Jinshi
    I'll do my best.
[17:22] Loulan
    Greetings, Master Jinshi.
[17:25] Jinshi
    Another wonderful outfit, I see.
[17:28] Loulan
    Thank you.
[17:31] Loulan
    Master Jinshi...
[17:32] Jinshi
    The emperor does visit
    Concubine Loulan often,
[17:34] Jinshi
    but apparently, he doesn't
    find her very appealing.
[17:37] Jinshi
    Concubine Loulan is very fashionable,
    changing her hairstyle and makeup often.
[17:42] Jinshi
    Apparently, he can't tell who she is
    every time he visits her, and gets confused.
[17:48] Jinshi
    Still, he visits her once every ten days.
[17:52] Jinshi
    Concubine Loulan's father is
    an important high-ranking official
[17:55] Jinshi
    who was the previous
    empress dowager's favorite.
[17:57] Jinshi
    He needs to be careful around her.
[18:02] Jinshi
    In terms of lacking appeal,
    Concubine Lishu is similar.
[18:05] Jinshi
    The current emperor despises his
    predecessor's taste for younger girls.
[18:10] Jinshi
    He doesn't intend to lay a finger
    on Concubine Lishu.
[18:13] Jinshi
    The empress dowager, who gave birth
[18:14] Jinshi
    to the current emperor
    when she was just a girl,
[18:16] Jinshi
    also gave birth to another child,
    some ten-odd years later.
[18:21] Jinshi
    At that time, the doctor spent all his time
    tending to the empress dowager,
[18:25] Jinshi
    so the birth took place without an issue.
[18:29] Jinshi
    However, Concubine Ah-Duo,
    who gave birth at around the same time,
[18:35] Jinshi
    received no attention,
    resulting in the loss of her uterus.
[18:39] Jinshi
    The current emperor's firstborn
    child was lost soon after.
[18:44] Jinshi
    If that child had survived...
[18:49] Jinshi
    No, it's just a silly delusion.
[18:55] Jinshi
    He just needs to make himself a new prince.
[19:00] Gyokuyou
    Oh, you're here.
[19:03] Jinshi
    You seem exhausted.
[19:05] Hongniang
    All right, back to work with you all.
[19:08] Yinghua; Guiyuan; Ailan
    Y-Yes.
[19:11] Gyokuyou
    To be honest...
[19:17] Maomao
    The rear palace?
[19:18] Jinshi
    Yes. Concubine Gyokuyou's
    lunar cycle has stopped.
[19:23] Maomao
    Lunar cycle. In other words,
    she might be pregnant.
[19:28] Maomao
    Starting when?
[19:30] Jinshi
    Can you start today?
[19:32] Maomao
    Yes.
[19:33] Jinshi
    I'm counting on you.
[19:36] Maomao
    This is a good opportunity for me.
[19:38] Maomao
    Men aren't allowed in the rear palace.
[19:41] Maomao
    There's no chance I'd run into that man
    whose name I can't even stand to hear.
[19:46] Maomao
    Does this mean Master Jinshi
    is looking out for me?
[19:49] Maomao
    At any rate, more tasting for poisons!
[19:53] Suiren
    Oh, you're in a good mood.
[19:55] Maomao
    Huh? No, not at all!
[19:58] Suiren
    It's unfortunate. I thought I'd finally found
    someone worth cracking the whip on.
[20:03] Suiren
    Right?
[20:08] Maomao
    Life at the rear palace
    is similar to the last time,
[20:12] Maomao
    tasting for poisons every day.
[20:15] Maomao
    This is safe.
[20:17] Maomao
    Besides the pause in her menstrual
    cycle, there's no definite evidence.
[20:25] Maomao
    I'd had this thought during
    the events with Concubine Ah-Duo,
[20:27] Maomao
    but perhaps he's more than just
    a lewd middle-aged guy.
[20:34] Maomao
    With Concubine Ah-Duo gone
    as a trusted adviser,
[20:39] Maomao
    and replaced by a quirky girl who
    could cause political issues, as well...
[20:45] Maomao
    Someone he can't just ignore, yet would
    cause trouble if she birthed a child...
[20:50] Maomao
    It all sounds like a headache.
SIGN    Verdigris House
[20:54] Servant Girl B
    Hey, did you hear?
SIGN    Verdigris House
[20:56] Servant Girl A
    What? One of the Three Princesses?
[20:58] Servant Girl B
    Yes! She's getting bought out!
[21:01] Lihaku
    Bought... out?
SIGN    Next Time
[22:46] Narrator
    Next time: "How to Buy
    Out a Contract."
SIGN    Episode 21: How to Buy Out a Contract

E21 - How to Buy Out a Contract

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
[01:35] Military Officer A
    Come on, Lihaku. Focus!
[01:38] Lihaku
    Oh, yeah. Sorry.
SIGN    Episode 21: How to Buy Out a Contract
[01:42] Guen
    Cleaning?!
[01:44] Guen
    You don't have to do that,
    you can ask someone else to—
[01:48] Maomao
    If we asked someone else to do it, and they
    swapped out the medicine, what would we do?
[01:54] Maomao
    There was a doctor at the court pharmacy
[01:58] Maomao
    that got a pay cut as punishment
    for not managing the drugs properly.
[02:05] Maomao
    We have to clean this up. It'll be
    too late once the humidity goes up.
[02:10] Guen
    Yes...
[02:21] Guen
    Finally, a good time for a break.
[02:23] Guen
    Sweets are always great when you're tired!
[02:26] Maomao
    This guy must be from a rich family.
[02:30] Maomao
    Sweet potatoes aren't in season,
[02:34] Maomao
    and he uses paper like a plate,
    like that's completely normal...
[02:36] Maomao
    Hmm?
[02:38] Maomao
    That's some good paper.
[02:40] Guen
    Oh, can you tell?
[02:42] Guen
    My family back home
    leads our village in making it.
[02:46] Guen
    We're the palace purveyor.
[02:49] Guen
    Impressive, huh?
[02:50] Maomao
    It is indeed impressive.
[02:52] Maomao
    I wonder if I can get
    an acquaintance discount.
[02:56] Guen
    We used to make limitless profits
    as we produced more.
[03:03] Guen
    We exported it to other countries, too.
[03:05] Guen
    My family bought me
    any snacks I wanted as a child.
[03:11] Guen
    But when the previous emperor's
    mother banned the cutting of trees,
[03:16] Guen
    things started to go downhill for us.
[03:18] Guen
    We started using alternate
    materials, which ruined trade.
[03:23] Guen
    Our family took the blame for that.
[03:26] Guen
    Since we had no money left,
    my older sister went to the rear palace.
[03:30] Guen
    When my younger sister said she'd go too,
    I volunteered to come instead.
[03:36] Guen
    Becoming a eunuch was less popular
    and was worth more money.
[03:40] Guen
    I never got to see my older sister, though.
[03:44] Maomao
    Hmm. He's been through more than I imagined.
[03:58] Maomao
    Excuse me. I'm here to continue cleaning.
[04:01] Guen
    Oh, hey, little lady.
[04:06] Guen
    My little sister sent me a letter.
[04:07] Guen
    Our family might not be
    the palace purveyor anymore.
[04:11] Maomao
    True, this isn't palace quality.
[04:16] Maomao
    Losing purveyor status would be
    a big deal in terms of sales.
[04:21] Guen
    I wonder why?
[04:23] Guen
    They just told me they came up
    with a way to produce more paper.
[04:27] Maomao
    Produce more? Did they cut some corners?
[04:32] Guen
    Of course not! They started
    using oxen for hard labor.
[04:38] Guen
    They didn't change
     the ingredients nor the process...
[04:42] Maomao
    Not the time for cleaning, I guess.
[04:45] Maomao
    Compared to the shoddy
    stuff sold everywhere,
[04:48] Maomao
    this has no impurities, the fibers are evenly
    crushed, and it's got consistent thickness.
[04:54] Maomao
    The only issues are scuffing
    on the surface, and...
[04:59] Maomao
    Its strength!
[05:01] Maomao
    What exactly is this unchanged process?
[05:03] Guen
    It's the same as normal papermaking.
[05:06] Guen
    However, our family has a special way of
    crushing the ingredients and creating glue...
[05:11] Guen
    Oh, but that's a secret.
[05:13] Maomao
    So, he doesn't blab about that.
[05:17] Maomao
    Is there special attention paid to the water?
[05:19] Guen
    Yes. We use stored spring water
    to make the glue harden properly.
[05:25] Guen
    It's for managing the humidity, but...
[05:28] Guen
    The rest is a secret.
[05:30] Maomao
    Oxen, stored spring water...
[05:40] Maomao
    Do you use boiled rice water for glue?
[05:44] Guen
    No, it's wheat flour,
    the way it's supposed to be.
[05:47] Guen
    Otherwise, the hardening is... Oh!
[05:51] Guen
    Hey little lady, forget I said that, okay?!
[05:54] Maomao
    Yes.
[05:56] Maomao
    So, where do you keep the oxen?
[05:59] Guen
    I don't know about that.
[06:02] Maomao
    I see.
[06:06] Maomao
    Here you go.
[06:07] Guen
    Arrowroot gruel?
[06:12] Guen
    Little lady, you got the ratio wrong.
[06:15] Guen
    It's stuck on the cup and hard to drink.
[06:18] Maomao
    Oh, sorry. I'll teach you how to
    make it easier to drink.
[06:23] Maomao
    Can you repeat after me?
[06:29] Maomao
    Like this, you lick the spoon and mix.
[06:32] Guen
    That seems like poor manners.
[06:41] Guen
    Oh, it's no longer sticky.
[06:45] Maomao
    Right?
[06:46] Maomao
    Isn't arrowroot gruel kind of like glue?
[06:50] Guen
    Hmm, I suppose so.
[06:53] Guen
    Maybe mixing saliva into glue
    would make it less sticky as well.
[06:58] Maomao
    Exactly.
[07:01] Guen
    Exactly what?
[07:03] Maomao
    This quack really can't take a hint.
[07:05] Maomao
    Oxen have lots of saliva in their mouths.
[07:11] Maomao
    Perhaps you should check where
    those oxen are getting their water.
[07:18] Guen
    I must send a letter to my sister!
[07:22] Maomao
    I'll take my leave for today.
[07:29] Maomao
    I'm back.
[07:31] Hongniang
    Oh, Maomao.
[07:33] Hongniang
    Someone sent a message
     that you're needed urgently.
[07:37] Maomao
    Where should I go?
[07:40] Lihaku
    How much would it cost
    to buy out a courtesan?
[07:45] Maomao
    And here I thought it was about Suirei...
[07:48] Maomao
    What a dumb dog.
[07:50] Lihaku
    Hear me out, missy!
[07:52] Lihaku
    At the Verdigris House the other day,
[07:53] Lihaku
    I heard rumors that one of the Three
    Princesses is getting bought out!
[07:57] Maomao
    And so he got worried about Pairin.
[08:01] Maomao
    The cost really depends.
[08:03] Lihaku
    Give me the max.
[08:04] Maomao
    Understood. Please understand that
    market prices fluctuate a lot,
[08:09] Maomao
    so this is just a rough estimate.
[08:10] Lihaku
    Give it to me straight.
[08:13] Lihaku
    How much?
[08:15] Maomao
    This is a tough one.
[08:17] Maomao
    The cost of buying out a courtesan is based
    on how much she could make at the brothel,
[08:24] Maomao
    plus a little extra, then doubled. So...
[08:30] Lihaku
    Little missy...
[08:34] Maomao
    If someone were to buy out Pairin, there are
    two candidates who are long-time favorites.
[08:41] Lihaku
    T-Two...
[08:43] Maomao
    One is a wealthy merchant,
[08:46] Maomao
    a pleasant older man who continued to visit
    the Verdigris House while it was in trouble.
[08:51] Maomao
    The other is a high-ranking official,
    still young, in his thirties.
[08:56] Maomao
    She said he's a good partner
    for bedtime activities,
[09:01] Maomao
    but it is a little concerning how
    exhausted he seems the next day.
[09:05] Maomao
    Thinking about life after being
    bought out, neither are... Hmm.
[09:10] Lihaku
    Exhausted? What do you mean?
[09:13] Maomao
    Pairin is not only a great dancer,
[09:16] Maomao
    but is also famous as
    an invincible warlord in bed.
[09:19] Maomao
    When her "hunger" grows,
    she'll pounce on anyone...
[09:23] Maomao
    In other words, she's extremely lustful.
[09:25] Pairin
    No!
[09:27] Maomao
    But...
[09:30] Lihaku
    But?
[09:32] Maomao
    Until my dad took me in, the ones who
    took care of me at the Verdigris House were
[09:37] Maomao
    the old lady and the Three Princesses.
[09:41] Maomao
    Pairin, who was able to lactate
    despite never having given birth,
[09:48] Maomao
    is almost like a mother to me.
[09:52] Maomao
    I don't know what her thoughts
    on the matter are, but...
[09:55] Maomao
    Thinking back on those days,
    I do think it's a bit of a waste.
[10:00] Maomao
    She's definitely lustful,
    but she's at least equally maternal.
[10:07] Lihaku
    But, what?
[10:13] Maomao
    Master Lihaku understands what Pairin
    does for work, and is still in love with her.
[10:18] Maomao
    He can be a dumb dog, but seems
    like an honest, hard worker.
[10:21] Maomao
    Trying to get a promotion
    for his girl is adorable, if stupid.
[10:26] Maomao
    Most of all, he has astonishing stamina.
[10:30] Maomao
    Hmm.
[10:33] Maomao
    He wouldn't be a bad choice, all considered.
[10:37] Maomao
    Master Lihaku, may I ask
    how much you're paid?
[10:41] Lihaku
    What's with that question all of a sudden?
[10:43] Maomao
    Perhaps 800 silver a year?
[10:45] Lihaku
    Come on, now.
[10:47] Maomao
    More like 1,200 then?
[10:49] Maomao
    So, roughly 1,000 silver or so a year.
[10:52] Lihaku
    Is that not enough?
[10:53] Maomao
    Afraid not.
[10:54] Maomao
    They'd ask at least 10,000 in cash.
[10:58] Lihaku
    T-Ten thousand?!
[11:00] Maomao
    A cheap courtesan would cost around 400.
[11:02] Maomao
    One of the Three Princesses of the Verdigris
    House? 10,000 silver, at the very least.
[11:09] Lihaku
    Ten thousand...
[11:12] Lihaku
    Hey, so... let's say I find that much somewhere.
[11:15] Lihaku
    You think I'll be able
    to buy her out with that?
[11:18] Maomao
    How likely do I think it is that she'd
    dramatically turn you down, you mean?
[11:26] Maomao
    Fine, fine.
[11:29] Maomao
    Master Lihaku, could you
    take off your clothes?
[11:34] Lihaku
    If I do, am I less likely to get dumped?
[11:36] Maomao
    One thing I know for sure is
    the body type she likes.
[11:42] Lihaku
    I'll strip!
[11:47] Maomao
    Your pants too, please.
[11:49] Lihaku
    Pants, too?
[11:50] Maomao
    Yes.
[11:52] Maomao
    Then, can you raise your arms up to your
    shoulders and flex your muscles?
[11:59] Lihaku
    Like this?
[12:00] Maomao
    Pairin's not a picky eater,
    but she does have preferences.
[12:06] Maomao
    Hmm, not bad...
[12:09] Maomao
    Next, lower your arms, then flex again.
[12:13] Lihaku
    Like this?
[12:16] Maomao
    As a good military man, he trains often.
[12:20] Maomao
    Good musculature.
[12:23] Maomao
    He might stand a chance.
[12:25] Maomao
    Now...
[12:27] Maomao
    Now, please remove your final garment!
[12:30] Lihaku
    Got it!
[12:34] Jinshi
    What in the world are you two doing?
[12:38] Maomao
    Greetings, Master Jinshi.
[12:45] Jinshi
    Now, what exactly were you up to?
[12:48] Maomao
    Pretty people are so scary
    when they're angry.
[12:52] Maomao
    What, you ask?
[12:55] Maomao
    Well, I was summoned to give
     my opinion about a matter.
[12:58] Jinshi
    Why was that man undressed like that?
[13:01] Maomao
    Nothing improper was going on.
[13:03] Maomao
    I was just taking a good look.
[13:07] Jinshi
    A good look? You?
[13:10] Maomao
    Yes, just looking.
[13:13] Jinshi
    What for?
[13:14] Maomao
    What for, you ask?
[13:16] Maomao
    To see if his body is good enough.
[13:18] Maomao
    What better way to know
    than to inspect him myself?
[13:21] Jinshi
    If his body is "good enough," you said?!
[13:23] Maomao
    Yes. Appearances are only a part
    of what defines a person,
[13:28] Maomao
    but being suited to one's
     taste is always a plus.
[13:30] Maomao
    I wanted to get a final look
    at his important parts
[13:34] Maomao
    to determine how to appeal to Pairin, but...
[13:41] Jinshi
    So, what did you think about
    that man's appearance?
[13:46] Maomao
    It was a very well-balanced body.
[13:49] Maomao
    He seems like a hard worker
    who trains diligently.
[13:54] Maomao
    I'd guess he's quite a skilled fighter,
    even compared to other military men.
[13:58] Jinshi
    You can read a person's personality
    just by their build?
[14:03] Maomao
    A person's appearance reflects
    their daily routines quite accurately.
[14:07] Maomao
    As an apothecary, it's not rare to get
    customers who won't tell us about themselves.
[14:12] Maomao
    So you learn this naturally on the job.
[14:15] Jinshi
    Can you tell from looking at my body, too?
[14:18] Maomao
    Huh?
[14:19] Maomao
    Wait, is he jealous of Master Lihaku?
[14:23] Maomao
    Oh, wow. I can't believe this guy.
[14:26] Maomao
    He just wants to brag that he's prettier!
[14:30] Maomao
    I do know he has a beautiful body.
[14:33] Maomao
    I was quite surprised
    by how well-toned it was.
[14:36] Maomao
    But...
[14:38] Maomao
    There'd be no point in
    learning about your body.
[14:43] Maomao
    I don't think you would
    get along with my sister.
[14:49] Jinshi
    Huh?!
[14:53] Lihaku
    As I waste time like this,
    Pairin could get bought out.
[14:58] Lihaku
    But I'm not yet capable of
    doing anything about it...
[15:06] Lihaku
    Pairin...
[15:10] Lihaku
    Hmm?
[15:14] Lihaku
    What in the world is going on?
[15:16] Lihaku
    Jinshi, I think his name was?
[15:19] Lihaku
    He's rumored to be the emperor's favorite...
[15:23] Jinshi
    Thank you for your hospitality
    with my attendant the other day.
[15:26] Lihaku
    Oh, you're quite welcome...
[15:29] Jinshi
    I hear you're romantically
    pursuing someone.
[15:34] Lihaku
    Did that girl talk?
[15:38] Lihaku
    Is that why he's smiling so much?
[15:42] Lihaku
    At his young age, high status, and being called
    the most beautiful person in the nation,
[15:49] Lihaku
    the matter of buying out a courtesan
    must be a joke to him.
[15:53] Lihaku
    I don't mind being made fun of.
[15:55] Lihaku
    But if he insults Pairin,
    that's a different story.
[16:00] Lihaku
    If he insults her...
[16:02] Jinshi
    20,000.
[16:04] Jinshi
    What would you say if I offered you
    the money to buy out your girl?
[16:12] Lihaku
    What do you mean?
[16:14] Jinshi
    Precisely what I said.
[16:22] Lihaku
    I appreciate your generosity,
[16:24] Lihaku
    but is it alright for you to suddenly
    offer that to an officer you barely know?
[16:29] Jinshi
    My cat can be quite cautious.
[16:33] Jinshi
    And yet, she's willing to give you advice,
[16:36] Jinshi
    and consider you as a candidate
    for her sister's life partner.
[16:42] Lihaku
    In other words, if your cautious cat lets
    her guard down around me, I'm trustworthy.
[16:52] Lihaku
    Did I say something bad?
[16:55] Jinshi
    I've heard some stories about you.
[17:00] Jinshi
    You do come from a good family,
[17:02] Jinshi
    but it still must have been hard for you to
    become a military officer here at the capital.
[17:06] Jinshi
    I hear you were discovered by our sharp-eyed
    strategist and assigned to lead a squad.
[17:13] Lihaku
    Yes.
[17:14] Lihaku
    The official story was that
    the prior squad leader retired
[17:17] Lihaku
    and I was simply pushed up, but...
[17:20] Jinshi
    Wouldn't anybody want to have a good
    relationship with a promising officer?
[17:25] Lihaku
    Still, 20,000 silver is way too much.
[17:29] Lihaku
    I only really need half as much...
    no, even just a quarter would do it.
[17:40] Lihaku
    I'm very glad to hear
    that you think so highly of me.
[17:44] Lihaku
    I also find your offer quite hard to resist.
[17:48] Lihaku
    But I can't accept that silver here.
[17:53] Lihaku
    For you, she might just be a local courtesan,
[17:56] Lihaku
    but for me, she's the only woman in my world.
[18:00] Lihaku
    To welcome a wife with
    someone else's money...
[18:07] Lihaku
    What kind of man would that make me?
[18:14] Jinshi
    I see. Pardon me.
[18:17] Lihaku
    Huh?
[18:18] Jinshi
    I may need to speak with you soon.
[18:22] Jinshi
    Is that alright with you?
[18:25] Lihaku
    Yes, sir.
[18:32] Gaoshun
    Master Jinshi.
[18:33] Jinshi
    Yes.
[18:35] Jinshi
    There was nothing to be
    worried about, yes.
[18:40] Lihaku
    What was that all about?!
[18:42] Lihaku
    Now, what to do?
[18:46] Lihaku
    I guess I should show off
    at the next training...
[18:52] Lihaku
    Or perhaps I should ask for more work...
[18:57] Lihaku
    Or... Right.
[19:05] Lihaku
    I'll write to her, even if I don't
    know when I can see next.
[19:14] Lihaku
    I can't force my will on her.
    I should hear what she thinks.
[19:29] Lihaku
    I don't care if her response
    is purely diplomatic.
[19:31] Lihaku
    Believing in her words will
    help me get through my days.
[20:00] Lihaku
    I just have to pursue her in a way I believe in.
[20:07] Pairin
    "Despite what the old lady thinks,
    I'm still in the game.
[20:12] Pairin
    Besides, I'm still waiting
    for my prince to come for me."
[20:18] Maomao
    Yeah, that's what I thought.
[20:20] Maomao
    If Pairin likes him,
    he won't need 10,000 silver.
[20:26] Maomao
    Beyond that, it's just luck.
[20:30] Pairin
    "When a certain someone came and
    talked about buying people out,
[20:33] Pairin
    I think one of the servant girls
    got the wrong idea."
[20:44] Maomao
    That man.
[20:48] Rikuson
    Master Lakan.
[20:50] Rikuson
    I finally found you.
[20:52] Rikuson
    Master Lakan, the meeting is starting.
[20:56] Lakan
    Blue roses.
[20:59] Rikuson
    What did you say?
SIGN    Next Time
SIGN    Episode 22: Blue Roses
[22:46] Narrator
    Next time: "Blue Roses."

E22 - Blue Roses

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
[01:33] Maomao
    By the time we started
    to smell spring in the air,
[01:36] Maomao
    it became certain that
    Lady Gyokuyou was indeed pregnant.
[01:46] Maomao
    That's curious. Can she tell
    there's a baby inside?
[01:54] Yinghua; Guiyuan; Ailan
    So cute!
[01:56] Hongniang
    Maybe I also should start to...
[02:03] Maomao
    Even if she did get a proposal,
[02:05] Maomao
    they'd probably never let her leave.
[02:08] Maomao
    Being too good at one's job
    can be a curse at times.
[02:16] Maomao
    Time flies when every day is so fulfilling.
[02:21] Maomao
    In comparison, the two months spent at
    Master Jinshi's offices felt like forever.
[02:30] Maomao
    Would you like to draw pictures again?
[02:32] Lingli
    Yes!
[02:38] Maomao
    This is the woolly milkcap,
    a poisonous mushroom—
[02:41] Maomao
    Ow!
[02:43] Hongniang
    Draw normal flowers, please.
[02:45] Maomao
    Normal flowers, huh?
[02:50] Jinshi
    A blue rose?
SIGN    Episode 22: Blue Roses
[02:52] Lakan
    Yes. Perhaps you've never seen one before?
[02:56] Lakan
    The striking blue petals are so beautiful.
[03:01] Lakan
    I used to see them in the palace often.
[03:05] Jinshi
    Perhaps you were dreaming?
[03:07] Jinshi
    Blue roses do not exist.
[03:11] Lakan
    But in fact, they do.
[03:15] Lakan
    Oh, how I'd love to appreciate them
    with everyone again.
[03:19] Lakan
    What do you think? Could it be done?
[03:23] Lakan
    With your power, there must be
    nothing outside your reach.
[03:27] Jinshi
    Understood. If such a rose does
    indeed exist, I'd like to see it as well.
[03:33] Lakan
    Then it's settled.
[03:35] Lakan
    Goodness, I can't wait!
[03:39] Lakan
    Excuse me.
[03:44] Lakan
    I hope to see it at next month's garden party.
[03:49] Gaoshun
    You're already so busy.
    You didn't have to take on more work.
[03:54] Jinshi
    Don't rub it in. Please just go ask
    every florist in the nation about this.
[04:04] Gaoshun
    The florists say that roses are not in season.
[04:12] Jinshi
    Sorry to call you up so suddenly.
[04:16] Jinshi
    We were talking about getting
     together to admire blue roses.
[04:21] Maomao
    Blue roses...?
[04:23] Maomao
    I'm just an apothecary, you know.
[04:25] Jinshi
    Yes, I'm aware...
[04:28] Maomao
    I wonder what prompted this?
    He seems awfully tired.
[04:33] Maomao
    Roses, huh? I do know
    a thing or two about them.
[04:38] Maomao
    I've sold them before to make some
    quick cash with the courtesans. But...
[04:44] Maomao
    They really said they saw a blue rose?
[04:47] Jinshi
    Yes.
[04:49] Maomao
    Is there some new popular hallucinogen, or...?
[04:52] Jinshi
    That'd ruin our whole nation!
[04:54] Gaoshun
    Master Jinshi.
[04:59] Jinshi
    Is it impossible?
[05:04] Maomao
    What exactly is it that you desire?
[05:07] Jinshi
    Can you find some by next month's garden party?
[05:10] Maomao
    Next month? Roses bloom
    two months later at the earliest.
[05:15] Jinshi
    I know...
[05:18] Jinshi
    I'll find a way to turn him down.
[05:22] Maomao
    Master Jinshi's reaction, and this style of
    forcing people to attempt the impossible...
[05:28] Maomao
    Was this brought up by a certain strategist?
[05:35] Jinshi
    Yes.
[05:37] Maomao
    Understood. I will take this on.
[05:40] Jinshi
    Are you sure?
[05:41] Maomao
    I don't know if I can pull it off,
    but I'll try my best.
[05:45] Maomao
    I don't want to just run from him.
[05:51] Maomao
    I might as well take a swing at
    smashing his creepy monocle.
[05:56] Maomao
    Master Jinshi, may I make a few requests?
[06:01] Maomao
    Thank you for allowing me
    to use it, Lady Lihua.
[06:06] Lihua
    I don't mind. You were the one that
    had it constructed in the first place.
[06:12] Maomao
    It's been a while.
[06:14] Maomao
    I remember back then, I got them to
    make a steam room for Lady Lihua,
[06:18] Maomao
    who was suffering from poison back then.
[06:20] Maomao
    I'm borrowing it now,
    but I feel bad using it for free.
[06:26] Maomao
    This is the emperor's favorite book.
[06:29] Lihua
    I appreciate this.
[06:32] Maomao
    I'm glad I got it through the brothel.
[06:40] Jinshi
    Take that side.
[06:42] Eunuchs
    Yes, sir!
[06:43] Maomao
    Master Jinshi.
[06:44] Jinshi
    Ah, you're here.
[06:46] Jinshi
    I had them build this as you asked, but...
[06:48] Jinshi
    What is this for?
[06:50] Maomao
    We're going to make the roses go mad.
[06:52] Jinshi
    Make the roses go mad?
[06:54] Jinshi
    What does that mean, apothecary?
[07:03] Maomao
    We're going to let the sunlight in,
    and blow steam inside through there.
[07:09] Maomao
    The roses will grow in this warmed room.
[07:12] Maomao
    This way, the flowers might
    mistake it as the time to bloom.
[07:17] Jinshi
    I see, so they'll "go mad."
[07:20] Maomao
    I can't guarantee it, though.
[07:30] Maomao
    Oh.
[07:33] Xiaolan
    Maomao!
[07:36] Maomao
    Xiaolan?
[07:37] Xiaolan
    I'll help, too!
[07:39] Xiaolan
    Is your leg okay?
[07:43] Maomao
    Did he summon her to chaperone me?
[07:48] Maomao
    They did repeatedly tell me
    not to push myself too hard.
[07:53] Maomao
    I'm fine. Sorry to make you help.
[07:55] Xiaolan
    It's okay. It's been a while since
    we've worked together, huh?
[07:59] Maomao
    Yeah, it has.
[08:05] Maomao
    We brought in over one hundred roses.
[08:11] Maomao
    This is the last one.
[08:14] Xiaolan
    Wow, this is a lot!
[08:17] Maomao
    We diversified the species, selecting
    early-blooming ones where possible.
[08:21] Xiaolan
    Will they all bloom?
[08:23] Maomao
    I hope so.
[08:37] Maomao
    Temperature control requires utmost care.
[08:41] Maomao
    I got them to send some help, but this is
    a tough task to delegate to others.
[08:48] Maomao
    If we make a mistake and kill them all,
    that would be the end of it.
[08:56] Maomao
    On sunny days, we bring them
    outside to expose them to sunlight.
[09:02] Xiaolan
    That must feel good!
[09:05] Maomao
    Yeah.
[09:06] Gaoshun
    How are you doing?
[09:09] Gaoshun
    Here, a gift.
[09:14] Maomao
    Thank you very much.
[09:17] Xiaolan
    I get to skip work and
    eat snacks? This is great!
[09:22] Maomao
    This is work too, though.
[09:27] Xiaolan
    What's with them?
[09:29] Maomao
    I don't know. Maybe they're just curious.
[09:32] Maomao
    Or they want to be scared.
[09:37] Xiaolan
    What should I do next?
[09:40] Maomao
    If a seedling has a lot of sprouts
    on it, can you pick a few?
[09:44] Maomao
    It concentrates the nutrients into the
    remaining sprouts and helps prevent sickness.
[09:49] Eunuchs
    Ah.
[09:51] Eunuchs
    Whoa!
[09:55] Xiaolan
    It's fine.
[10:01] Eunuchs
    Thank you.
[10:02] Xiaolan
    Don't mention it!
[10:06] Maomao
    Hurry!
[10:16] Xiaolan
    It's taking them a long time to bloom.
[10:24] Maomao
    On days where it gets cold,
[10:31] Maomao
    I stay up all night to maintain the heat.
[10:41] Maomao
    Weather can't be controlled.
[10:55] Xiaolan
    Did you pull another all-nighter?
[10:58] Maomao
    I did sleep, around dawn.
[11:00] Xiaolan
    Dawn was just moments ago!
[11:02] Xiaolan
    I'll do what I can,
    so why don't you get some sleep?
[11:06] Maomao
    I can't leave this alone.
[11:10] Xiaolan
    They're looking at us again.
[11:13] Maomao
    Every single day. Don't they get tired of this?
[11:16] Maomao
    It's irritating.
[11:19] Maomao
    I wonder if I can divert their attention...
[11:26] Xiaolan
    Wow! So this is what a manicure is like!
[11:31] Maomao
    Everyone does it in the pleasure district.
[11:34] Xiaolan
    It sure is pretty!
[11:47] Guiyuan
    Oh, you did it too, Maomao?
[11:49] Guiyuan
    So cute!
[11:51] Ailan
    It's been popular recently.
[11:54] Maomao
    Indeed.
[11:57] Maomao
    The high-ranking concubines are always
    at the cutting edge of fashion.
[12:08] Hongniang
    Seems like a waste of time.
[12:12] Maomao
    Lady Hongniang prefers work over fashion.
[12:16] Maomao
    I've finished tasting for poison,
    so I'll go back to the Crystal Pavilion now.
[12:20] Gyokuyou
    Already?
[12:21] Maomao
    The garden party is coming up soon.
[12:24] Gyokuyou
    I see...
[12:26] Hongniang
    Oh, by the way, Lady Gyokuyou
    won't be attending this time around.
[12:31] Hongniang
    We're letting the focus of this event
     be Lady Loulan's introduction.
[12:35] Maomao
    To hide the pregnancy, right.
[12:38] Maomao
    Understood. Excuse me.
[12:41] Yinghua
    Hey, is everything alright
    at the Crystal Pavilion?
[12:44] Guiyuan
    You look worse for wear every day.
[12:46] Ailan
    Don't push yourself too hard, okay?
[12:48] Maomao
    Thank you.
[13:01] Xiaolan
    Maomao!
[13:04] Xiaolan
    Maomao, hurry!
[13:11] Maomao
    A bud...
[13:12] Xiaolan
    I found it just now.
[13:14] Xiaolan
    Our first one, finally!
[13:18] Maomao
    At this rate... We might just make it in time.
[13:23] Xiaolan
    Maomao? Maomao!
[13:26] Xiaolan
    Maomao!
[13:36] Jinshi
    Has the apothecary sent any word?
[13:38] Gaoshun
    No, nothing.
[13:40] Gaoshun
    I haven't been able to visit her
    for the past few days.
[13:43] Jinshi
    We were both busy preparing
    for the garden party.
[13:50] Maomao
    Master Jinshi.
[14:21] Military Officer 1
    So, that's Concubine Loulan,
    daughter of Master Shishou.
[14:29] Bureaucrat 1
    How splendid.
[14:44] Shishou
    Regarding Concubine Loulan,
[14:49] Shishou
    is there anything that needs improvement?
[14:53] Shishou
    Please, hold nothing back.
[14:59] Loulan
    Please.
[15:01] Empress Dowager
    Oh.
[15:14] High Official 1
    Blue roses?!
[15:15] High Official 2
    It can't be...
[15:22] Jinshi
    It may be entertaining
[15:25] Jinshi
    to enjoy the beauty of these buds while
    imagining how they look at full bloom.
[15:30] Emperor
    Yes. They're beautiful.
[15:34] High Official 1
    Hmph.
[15:34] Jinshi
    The attention that "Jinshi" gets.
[15:39] Jinshi
    Unlike some of the worthless officials,
[15:42] Jinshi
    many don't appreciate a young eunuch
    hoarding attention, no matter how beautiful.
[15:50] Jinshi
    Lust is fine. It's easy to exploit that.
[15:57] Jinshi
    Envy is fine, too. It's manageable.
[15:59] Jinshi
    What's really troubling is...
[16:02] Jinshi
    When I can't tell what they're thinking.
[16:05] Jinshi
    Shishou. Concubine Loulan's father, the man
    favored by the mother of the former emperor...
[16:11] Jinshi
    Even now, the emperor
    can't look him in the eye.
[16:14] Jinshi
    That's why I also can't let
    my smile fade, either.
[16:18] Jinshi
    And besides, the one who's more
    worrying than Shishou right now is...
[16:22] Jinshi
    That man, Lakan.
[16:35] Lakan
    How annoying.
[16:44] Yinghua
    Are you awake?
[16:45] Maomao
    Yinghua.
[16:47] Yinghua
    Don't go to the Crystal Pavilion anymore.
[16:49] Yinghua
    You always come back looking so exhausted.
[16:54] Maomao
    I'm sorry.
[16:56] Jinshi
    You're up.
[17:01] Yinghua
    Excuse me.
[17:05] Jinshi
    You can stay seated.
[17:09] Maomao
    It was hard. I couldn't get them
    to fully bloom.
[17:14] Jinshi
    You're not apologizing to me, are you?
[17:19] Jinshi
    Never mind. You did well.
[17:23] Jinshi
    How did you do it, though?
[17:26] Maomao
    I just dyed them.
[17:28] Jinshi
    Dyed? But there's nothing on them.
[17:31] Maomao
    Not on the outside. We dyed them from the inside.
[17:39] Maomao
    All of these roses were originally white.
[17:44] Maomao
    We mixed water with several colors
    and had the white buds suck them up.
[17:49] Jinshi
    So that's why there were
    many colors, not just blue.
[17:53] Maomao
    Yes. The leaves ended up coming out
    black, so we plucked them all.
[17:59] Maomao
    Then all we had to do was to fix cotton
    soaked in the dyed water to the stems,
[18:03] Maomao
    so they wouldn't lose their
     vibrancy during the garden party.
[18:07] Maomao
    It really was quite simple.
[18:09] Maomao
    What was actually difficult was
    getting the roses to bloom at all.
[18:14] Jinshi
    Simple, indeed.
[18:17] Maomao
    Also, because some officials might
     have picked a quarrel about this,
[18:22] Maomao
    I went ahead and revealed
    the trick to the emperor.
[18:26] Maomao
    He seemed to enjoy the fact that
    he got to know the secret first,
[18:29] Maomao
    and had a good time listening to me explain.
[18:32] Jinshi
    So, about the story of the blue roses
    being seen in the palace...
[18:36] Maomao
    There must have been someone with a lot of
    free time feeding blue water to the roses.
[18:44] Jinshi
    Who would do something like that?
[18:47] Maomao
    Who knows? Maybe they wanted
    a gimmick with which to woo women.
[18:52] Jinshi
    That's unexpected. Are you painting your nails?
[18:55] Maomao
    It doesn't suit me, though.
[18:58] Maomao
    If I had some balsam and woodsorrel,
    I could have made them look prettier.
[19:03] Maomao
    Balsam is often used to dye fingernails,
    and woodsorrel is nicknamed cat's foot.
[19:08] Maomao
    Mixing them together and applying them
    on the fingernails creates a vivid red.
[19:12] Maomao
    But then, even if I made them prettier...
[19:15] Maomao
    This is better than it was before.
[19:19] Maomao
    Master Gaoshun, what about
    the item I requested?
[19:22] Gaoshun
    Yes, as you wished.
[19:25] Maomao
    Thank you.
[19:28] Maomao
    Now the stage is set.
[19:30] Maomao
    All I have to do now is catch
    that nasty creep off guard.
[19:39] Lakan
    I didn't expect my provocation to fail.
[19:51] Lakan
    Most humans only look like go stones to me.
[19:55] Lakan
    Men are black stones, women are white stones.
SIGN    Pawn
SIGN    Pawn
SIGN    Pawn
SIGN    Pawn
[19:59] Lakan
    Even my subordinates in the military
    only appear as chess pieces, at best.
[20:04] Lakan
    Most are soldiers, pawns.
[20:07] Lakan
    As they gain ranks,
    they become cavalry and cannons.
SIGN    River
[20:11] Lakan
    Working in the military is easy.
[20:14] Lakan
    I just need to know where to place the pieces.
[20:18] Lakan
    The right pieces in the right places.
    Most wars can be won by that alone.
[20:22] Lakan
    It's quite easy. Even if I were
    completely useless,
[20:27] Lakan
    as long as I placed others in the right places,
    the work would get done on its own.
[20:32] Lakan
    My eyes hurt more than usual today.
[20:35] Lakan
    A red color keeps flickering into my view.
[20:40] Lakan
    Manicures...
[20:42] Lakan
    The manicures in my memories
    aren't this overly flamboyant crimson.
[20:48] Lakan
    They're the soft color of balsam.
SIGN    Advisor
SIGN    Bishop
SIGN    Next Time
[22:46] Narrator
    Next time:
    "Balsam and Woodsorrel."
SIGN    Episode 23: Balsam and Woodsorrel

E23 - Balsam and Woodsorrel

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
[01:37] Fengxian
    Sleep, my baby, sleep.
[01:45] Fengxian
    Where is she? She cries.
SIGN    Advisor
SIGN    Bishop
SIGN    Episode 23: Balsam and Woodsorrel
[02:06] Maomao
    Would you join me for a few games?
[02:10] Lakan
    How could I possibly decline
    a request from my lovely daughter?
[02:17] Maomao
    A best-of-five match, no special rules.
[02:20] Maomao
    In other words, the first to win
    three rounds is the victor.
[02:24] Lakan
    How about handicaps?
    Which pieces should I drop?
[02:28] Maomao
    There's no need for that.
[02:30] Jinshi
    She could've just accepted.
[02:32] Maomao
    More importantly, let's place a bet. A reward.
[02:36] Lakan
    Great, right down to business!
[02:38] Lakan
    If I win, will you come live with me?
[02:45] Gaoshun
    You promised not to interfere.
[02:47] Jinshi
    But—
[02:51] Maomao
    I don't mind.
[02:52] Maomao
    However, I'm under hire right now.
[02:55] Maomao
    You'll have to wait until my contract expires.
[02:57] Lakan
    Hired? You're actually employed right now?
[03:01] Maomao
    Yes.
[03:02] Lakan
    Huh...
[03:06] Maomao
    In exchange, if I win,
[03:09] Maomao
    could you buy out a courtesan
    at the Verdigris House?
[03:15] Lakan
    Of all the things you could ask...
[03:17] Maomao
    I won't say who, but the old lady
    wants to get rid of an aging courtesan.
[03:23] Lakan
    So that's your first move.
[03:26] Lakan
    If that's what it takes, I suppose I must accept.
[03:31] Lakan
    Is that all, then?
[03:33] Maomao
    I'd like to add two more rules.
[03:42] Jinshi
    From the smell of it,
    that's a distilled hard liquor?
[03:51] Jinshi
    I have such a bad feeling about this.
[03:53] Lakan
    What is that?
[03:55] Maomao
    A medicine, in small amounts.
[03:57] Maomao
    Three sips turn it into
     a deadly poison, though.
[04:01] Maomao
    I'll pour it into three of these cups,
[04:05] Maomao
    then make it so that
    we can't tell which is which.
[04:09] Maomao
    After every match, the winner picks one cup,
    and the loser drinks from it in one breath.
[04:15] Maomao
    That's the first rule.
[04:17] Jinshi
    What a brutal rule...
[04:20] Maomao
    The second rule is that no matter the reason,
[04:24] Maomao
    if a player abandons a match, they lose.
[04:29] Maomao
    Do you accept?
[04:35] Lakan
    That's fine.
[04:37] Jinshi
    Is she trying to shake him?
[04:39] Jinshi
    I guess a regular person
    would be scared by that.
[04:42] Jinshi
    But...
[04:44] Jinshi
    This is the famous weirdo strategist
    we're talking about.
[04:47] Jinshi
    I doubt he'd lose his composure
    from being pressured this way.
[04:53] Jinshi
    What is she thinking?
[05:42] Jinshi
    She lost again!
[05:44] Jinshi
    That's two games in a row.
[05:46] Jinshi
    Since she chose to challenge
    the invincible chess master in chess,
[05:50] Jinshi
    I thought she had some skill in the game.
[05:53] Jinshi
    It seems like she just knows the rules
    and has never played a real game before.
[05:58] Jinshi
    Two cups...
[06:00] Jinshi
    She drinks it so eagerly,
    I can't tell if it's poisoned or not.
[06:05] Maomao
    May I play first in the third game as well?
[06:08] Lakan
    Sure, fine by me.
[06:12] Jinshi
    What in the world is she thinking?
[06:14] Jinshi
    She's not going to win the
    third match, either.
[06:17] Jinshi
    If the two cups she already had were poisoned,
[06:21] Jinshi
    drinking a third would be too risky.
[06:24] Jinshi
    Did Lakan predict this situation already?
[06:31] Maomao
    That's checkmate.
[06:34] Lakan
    I yield.
[06:36] Maomao
    A win is a win, even if
    you let me win, correct?
[06:39] Lakan
    Yes. I can't risk feeding my daughter poison.
[06:46] Lakan
    Can you choose a cup?
[06:48] Maomao
    Please take whichever one you like.
[06:50] Lakan
    Does this medicine have a special taste?
[06:54] Maomao
    One sip and you'd notice that it tastes bad.
[06:58] Jinshi
    Lakan can lose up to twice.
[07:01] Jinshi
    If even one of those cups
    has a different taste,
[07:03] Jinshi
    he'd know that his daughter
    can avoid the poison.
[07:07] Jinshi
    He really does know what he's doing,
    losing on purpose to do that.
[07:12] Lakan
    This one, then.
[07:29] Lakan
    What an awful taste.
[07:32] Jinshi
    It's poisoned! Now there's no risk of
    the apothecary drinking the third poison.
[07:38] Jinshi
    That means Lakan no longer
    needs to lose on purpose.
[07:44] Jinshi
    The apothecary has no chance of winning now.
[07:47] (Flashback) Lakan
    If I win, will you come live with me?
[07:51] Lakan
    Also, it's quite warm out.
[08:09] Jinshi
    What's going on?
[08:11] Jinshi
    I thought one cup of it was safe!
[08:13] Jinshi
    Did you actually poison him?!
    Do you really hate him that much—
[08:16] Maomao
    It is medicine. Alcohol is the king
    of all medicines, isn't it?
[08:21] Jinshi
    Alcohol? What do you mean?
[08:23] Gaoshun
    Master Jinshi, it seems like he's just drunk.
[08:28] Jinshi
    Huh?
[08:34] Maomao
    He completely abstains from alcohol.
[08:38] Jinshi
    Come to think of it...
[08:40] Jinshi
    He always just drinks fruit juice,
    I've never seen him drink alcohol.
[08:45] Jinshi
    So, what was that liquid earlier?
[08:47] Maomao
    Spirits.
[08:49] Maomao
    Anyway...
[08:52] Maomao
    Let's drag this guy out of here and
    have him pick a flower from the brothel.
[09:04] Lakan
    From the day I was born, I couldn't
    differentiate between humans.
[09:09] Lakan
    Not only did I mistake
    my nanny for my mother,
[09:12] Lakan
    I couldn't even tell men and women apart.
[09:15] Lakan
    My father believed me to be useless,
    and ran off to his mistress in disgust.
[09:23] Lakan
    My mother was desperate to get him back.
[09:28] Lakan
    Because of that, despite being
    the eldest son of an important family,
[09:31] Lakan
    I was able to live freely,
    devoting myself to go and chess,
[09:35] Lakan
    which I learned in my spare time.
[09:38] (Flashback) Luomen
    Differentiate people based on their voices,
    behavior, and build, instead of their faces.
[09:45] (Flashback) Luomen
    In your case, you can use chess pieces.
SIGN    Pawn
SIGN    Pawn
SIGN    Pawn
SIGN    Pawn
SIGN    Pawn
SIGN    Pawn
[09:48] Lakan
    My uncle was the only one who understood me.
[09:52] Lakan
    Thanks to my uncle, who
    is clumsy but very intelligent,
[09:56] Lakan
    I gradually learned to see
    people's faces as chess pieces.
SIGN    Pawn
SIGN    Pawn
SIGN    Chariot
[10:02] Lakan
    When I started to see
    my uncle as a Chariot piece,
[10:04] Lakan
    I reaffirmed that he is indeed a great man.
[10:09] Lakan
    After I grew up, thanks to my family name,
[10:13] Lakan
    I was suddenly assigned to lead a squadron,
    despite having no talent in combat.
[10:17] Lakan
    Even if I was weak,
[10:18] Lakan
    I could more than make up for it
    by using the men under me effectively.
[10:23] Lakan
    Most of all, playing chess with human pieces
    was the most fun game I had ever played.
SIGN    Verdigris House
[10:29] Lakan
    As I continued my lossless
    streak in both work and games,
[10:33] Lakan
    I followed my colleagues to a brothel
    to take on a famous courtesan.
[10:39] Lakan
    In a world full of black and white,
    that was the only bright color I saw.
[10:46] Lakan
    Her name was Fengxian.
[10:49] Lakan
    The undefeated courtesan of the brothel,
[10:52] Lakan
    versus me, undefeated in the military.
[10:54] Lakan
    The audience would have had
    a good time no matter who lost.
[10:58] Lakan
    She's strong, but she only fights
    in her own small world...
[11:06] Lakan
    I lost.
[11:08] Lakan
    I was absolutely thrashed.
[11:10] Lakan
    When was the last time I lost so badly?
[11:22] Lakan
    Ah, so that's what a human face looks like.
[11:30] Lakan
    Her defiant eyes, like a balsam flower
    that would burst if touched...
[11:46] Lakan
    Next time, I won't lose.
[11:49] Lakan
    For several years after that,
    we continued to meet to play go and chess.
[12:01] Lakan
    Fengxian, who was born at the brothel,
[12:03] Lakan
    had a personality that was
    almost purely made of pride.
[12:07] (Flashback) Fengxian
    I have no mother. A woman did give birth to me,
[12:12] (Flashback) Fengxian
    but in the pleasure district,
    a courtesan can never become a mother.
[12:18] Lakan
    Once a talented courtesan gains popularity,
    the brothel becomes reluctant to sell them.
[12:25] Lakan
    Fengxian fit that profile exactly.
[12:29] Lakan
    Her harsh attitude wasn't for everyone,
[12:33] Lakan
    but she became the favorite
    of several dilettantes.
[12:37] Lakan
    Her prices gradually rose,
[12:40] Lakan
    and I could only afford to see her
    once every three months.
[12:50] (Flashback) Lakan
    Balsam flower, and... What's that?
[12:54] (Flashback) Fengxian
    Woodsorrel, also known as cat's foot.
[12:58] (Flashback) Fengxian
    I hear it's a medicine that helps
    treat poisons and insect bites.
[13:03] (Flashback) Fengxian
    Like the balsam, touching a ripe fruit
    causes the seeds to burst.
[13:10] (Flashback) Lakan
    Interesting.
[13:13] (Flashback) Fengxian
    When can you come next?
[13:20] (Flashback) Lakan
    Three months from now, as always.
[13:23] (Flashback) Fengxian
    Understood.
[13:27] Lakan
    That was when I heard about
    Fengxian being bought out.
[13:32] Lakan
    Fengxian's price was being hiked up by
    the dilettantes competing against each other.
[13:38] Lakan
    I was on a good career
    path as a military officer,
[13:41] Lakan
    but since I'd lost the title
    of heir to my half-brothers,
[13:45] Lakan
    her price was well outside my reach.
[13:50] (Flashback) Fengxian
    Would you like to place a bet, for a change?
[13:53] (Flashback) Fengxian
    If you win, I will give you anything you want.
[13:57] (Flashback) Fengxian
    If I win, I will take anything that I want.
[14:02] (Flashback) Fengxian
    Please choose a board.
[14:06] Lakan
    A terrible thought crossed my mind.
[14:11] (Flashback) Fengxian
    Go, is it?
[14:13] (Flashback) Lakan
    Yes.
[14:15] (Flashback) Fengxian
    Meimei, I want to concentrate on this game.
[14:19] (Flashback) Meimei
    Yes.
[14:58] Lakan
    Before I knew it, our hands touched.
[15:03] Lakan
    There were no sweet words from Fengxian.
[15:08] Lakan
    I wasn't the type to offer any, either.
[15:10] Lakan
    In that way, we were quite similar.
[15:15] (Flashback) Fengxian
    I want to play go.
[15:17] Lakan
    I'd been thinking about how
    I wanted to play chess, myself.
[15:22] (Flashback) Fengxian
    Sleep, my baby, sleep.
[15:30] (Flashback) Fengxian
    Where is she? She cries.
[15:38] (Flashback) Fengxian
    Little birds are so innocent.
[15:45] (Flashback) Fengxian
    Off they fly to somewhere far.
[15:54] Lakan
    Three months later, my supposedly intelligent
    uncle was ousted from his position.
[15:59] (Flashback) Father
    First you became a doctor in the
    rear palace, and now you're exiled?!
[16:02] (Flashback) Father
    You bring shame to our family!
[16:05] Lakan
    For all his intelligence, he really is clumsy.
[16:09] (Flashback) Father
    You used to be close to him.
[16:12] (Flashback) Father
    Leave the house for a while, go study abroad!
[16:15] (Flashback) Lakan
    Study abroad...?
[16:16] (Flashback) Father
    Just in case.
[16:18] (Flashback) Lakan
    But...
[16:19] (Flashback) Father
    What?
[16:21] (Flashback) Lakan
    No, it's nothing.
[16:24] Lakan
    There was no way I could speak up
    against my father, who was also my boss.
[16:30] Lakan
    Around the same time,
[16:32] Lakan
    Fengxian wrote to me that
    her buyout agreement fell through.
[16:36] Lakan
    I assumed I would be back
    in six months or so.
[16:43] Lakan
    But, back then...
[16:50] Lakan
    I had no idea it would take
    three whole years for me to return.
[16:59] (Flashback) Lakan
    So many letters from Fengxian...
[17:16] (Flashback) Lakan
    Mud? No, a branch?
[17:20] (Flashback) Lakan
    And there's two of them?
[17:25] (Flashback) Lakan
    No, this is...
[17:30] Lakan
    Finger severing...
[17:31] Lakan
    I knew that was a popular
    way to curse someone.
[17:35] Lakan
    The reason why her deal fell through...
[17:38] Lakan
    The other small finger in the bag...
[17:42] Lakan
    Why didn't I notice?!
[17:45] Lakan
    All I had in my head was go and chess.
[17:49] Lakan
    I couldn't even reach that simple conclusion!
[17:57] (Flashback) Lakan
    Where's Fengxian?!
[17:59] (Flashback) Old Lady
    You!
[18:00] (Flashback) Old Lady
    Fengxian is gone now!
[18:02] (Flashback) Old Lady
    Where have you been all this time?!
[18:04] (Flashback) Old Lady
    You left her for three whole years!
[18:06] (Flashback) Old Lady
    You don't care one bit what happens
    to a worthless courtesan, do you?!
[18:13] Lakan
    If only I'd put even a little thought into it!
[18:16] Lakan
    The reason why she wouldn't get bought out...
[18:20] Lakan
    The reason was in her belly...
[18:23] Lakan
    By soiling the name of her brothel,
    her trust and reputation fell to nothing!
[18:30] Lakan
    All she could do was to take
    customers like a streetwalker,
[18:34] Lakan
    and...
[18:44] Lakan
    No matter how much I lamented,
    there was no way to turn back time.
[18:49] Lakan
    It was all my fault,
    for being so short-sighted.
[19:06] Lakan
    This is... The Verdigris House?
[19:12] Meimei
    Are you awake?
[19:16] Lakan
    Meimei.
[19:18] Meimei
    Some noble's servant brought you here.
[19:22] Meimei
    Your face looks terrible. I don't
     know if it's more red or blue.
[19:27] Lakan
    I didn't think I'd end up like this, either.
[19:30] Lakan
    I wasn't expecting it to
    be such a strong liquor.
[19:35] Lakan
    Meimei used to be Fengxian's servant girl.
[19:41] Lakan
    I used to play with her a lot.
[19:44] Lakan
    When I complemented her talents,
    she seemed abashed.
[19:48] Lakan
    Come to think of it...
[19:50] Meimei
    What is it?
[19:53] Lakan
    No, nothing.
[19:58] Meimei
    Here you are.
[19:59] Lakan
    Yes.
[20:04] Lakan
    So bitter!
[20:05] Lakan
    What is this?!
[20:07] Meimei
    Something Maomao made.
[20:10] Maomao
    Mix mix, mix mix, mix mix.
[20:11] Lakan
    I see, it was Maomao...
[20:15] Maomao
    Also, Maomao left this box for you.
[20:28] Lakan
    A withered rose?
[20:30] Meimei
    Even when withered, it can retain its shape.
[20:41] Servant Girl
    Big Sis Meimei.
[20:43] Meimei
    Excuse me.
SIGN    Next Time
[22:46] Narrator
    Next time: "Jinshi and Maomao."
SIGN    Episode 24: Jinshi and Maomao

E24 - Jinshi and Maomao

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
[01:31] Lakan
    Fengxian...
[01:33] Lakan
    I wanted to be with the daughter she left behind.
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
[01:36] Lakan
    That was my only wish.
[01:41] Lakan
    It's only natural for her to hate me.
[01:44] Lakan
    But I still wanted her near me.
[01:52] Lakan
    At any rate, a bet is a bet.
    I'll have to try again another time.
[01:57] Lakan
    But that man...
SIGN    Advisor
[02:00] Lakan
    I'll never forgive him.
[02:01] Lakan
    He put his hand on my daughter's shoulder
    three times during that match.
SIGN    Advisor
SIGN    Advisor
[02:05] Lakan
    Now, I wonder how to take my revenge...
[02:09] Lakan
    Hmm?
[02:09] Old Lady
    Finally awake?
[02:11] Old Lady
    I hear you're trying to buy out one of our courtesans.
[02:14] Old Lady
    You realize it'll cost you more than
    a few thousand silver, right?
[02:19] Lakan
    I know. If ten thousand isn't enough,
    then twenty, thirty, whatever.
[02:24] Lakan
    A hundred thousand, though,
    might be a bit much.
[02:27] Old Lady
    Is that so? Then come this way.
[02:30] Old Lady
    I'll let you have your pick.
[02:34] Lakan
    Sheesh.
[02:59] Lakan
    Are you sure you want to include
    one of the Three Princesses?
[03:02] Old Lady
    I told you, you can have your pick.
[03:05] Old Lady
    Of course, you'd have to pay accordingly.
[03:08] Lakan
    This is troublesome.
[03:11] Lakan
    No matter how beautifully they dress,
    they all look like go stones to me.
[03:16] Lakan
    In that case, I guess I can request Meimei,
    since she's been so good to me.
[03:30] Meimei
    Master Lakan.
[03:34] Meimei
    I do hold pride in my work as a courtesan.
[03:38] Meimei
    If it is me that you desire,
    I will accept without hesitation.
[03:46] Meimei
    But...
[03:51] Meimei
    If you're going to choose, please choose well.
[04:00] Fengxian
    Sleep, my baby, sleep.
[04:07] Fengxian
    Little cuckoo sings as the sun goes down.
[04:09] Old Lady
    Meimei! I didn't allow you to open that!
[04:13] Old Lady
    What are you doing?!
[04:16] Old Lady
    W-Wait!
[04:23] Lakan
    A flower that retains its beauty
    even when withered!
[04:28] Lakan
    If that was supposed to be a message...
[04:32] Lakan
    Could it be?!
[04:34] Fengxian
    Sleep, my baby, sleep.
[04:38] Fengxian
    Where is she? She cries.
[04:46] Fengxian
    Little birds are so innocent.
[04:54] Fengxian
    Off they fly to somewhere far.
[05:03] Fengxian
    Sleep, my baby, sleep.
[05:10] Fengxian
    Sleep now, and I'll see you tomorrow.
[05:20] Old Lady
    What are you doing?!
    This place is for the sick!
[05:23] Old Lady
    Get out of here, now!
[05:24] Old Lady
    Hurry up and pick a courtesan from out there!
[05:28] Lakan
    Yes. I have to choose, don't I?
[05:32] Old Lady
    Are you listening to me?!
[05:43] Lakan
    I want this woman.
[05:46] Old Lady
    Stop this nonsense!
[05:48] Lakan
    You're the one who said
    I can pick anyone I want.
[05:51] Lakan
    I'll pay whatever you ask. A hundred thousand,
    two hundred thousand, whatever.
[05:57] Old Lady
    What are you talking about—
[06:32] Lakan
    Let's play go.
[06:48] Lakan
    Oh, so that's your move?
[06:51] Lakan
    Your moves are always so sudden and unexpected.
[06:54] Lakan
    Maomao must have gotten that from you.
[07:03] Meimei
    Big Sister, you should have been
    honest from the start.
[07:10] Meimei
    Why so late...
[07:17] Lakan
    I will buy out this courtesan.
[07:23] Lakan
    This woman, beautiful as a balsam flower.
SIGN    Episode 24: Jinshi and Maomao
[07:39] Maomao
    Basen was the one that accompanied me to the Verdigris House to drop off that man.
[07:46] Maomao
    I'm tired.
[07:49] Maomao
    Hmm?
[07:50] Basen
    Dammit, the wicked father-daughter duo.
[07:55] Maomao
    That's Concubine Loulan.
[07:58] Maomao
    I guess they stayed out here
    after the garden party.
[08:01] Maomao
    So that must be her father,
[08:03] Maomao
    the one that pushed hard to get
    his daughter in the rear palace.
[08:08] Maomao
    At any rate...
[08:10] Maomao
    I really wish this guy would quit bad-mouthing
    high-ranked officials in public.
[08:15] Maomao
    If someone overheard, I might get
    mistaken for saying it right along with him.
[08:20] Maomao
    I guess he's still young.
[08:22] Basen
    Hey.
[08:24] Basen
    Master Jinshi wants to see you.
[08:30] Jinshi
    You must be tired.
[08:32] Maomao
    No, not really.
[08:34] Suiren
    Oh!
[08:36] Suiren
    Oh my, you've lost so much weight!
[08:39] Maomao
    I'm fine.
[08:42] Suiren
    Here you are, Xiaomao. Eat up.
[08:46] Suiren
    There's plenty more where that came from.
[08:52] Jinshi
    I thought you hated our master strategist.
[08:57] Maomao
    Master Jinshi.
[09:00] Maomao
    It's not that I hate him.
[09:02] Maomao
    After all, I'm here because
    he was able to land that shot.
[09:07] Jinshi
    Was there really no other way to phrase that?
[09:09] Maomao
    It's just facts. I'm not sure
    how you imagined it,
[09:13] Maomao
    but she wouldn't have gotten
    pregnant if she didn't want to.
[09:18] Maomao
    There's drugs to prevent
    or abort pregnancies.
[09:20] Maomao
    Ending it would have been easy, early on.
[09:23] Maomao
    She must have given birth
    because she wanted to.
[09:27] Maomao
    Rather, perhaps he was the one who was tricked.
[09:31] Jinshi
    The strategist?
[09:33] Maomao
    Women are clever.
[09:35] Maomao
    It's not hard to make a good estimate of
    when one is most likely to become pregnant
[09:39] Maomao
    by tracking blood flow cycles.
[09:41] Maomao
    As a courtesan, she was able to control
    the date of his visits by sending him letters.
[09:47] Maomao
    That must have been why she lost her
    mind when things didn't work out.
[09:53] Maomao
    So much so, that she was
    willing to hurt herself.
[09:58] Maomao
    Not only that, but she sent
    the baby's little finger as well.
[10:05] Maomao
    Master Jinshi, that man never talks to you
    outside your office, does he?
[10:12] Jinshi
    Now that you mention it...
[10:13] Maomao
    That man isn't able to recognize human faces.
[10:16] Jinshi
    Unable to recognize faces? What do you mean?
[10:19] Maomao
    He can tell the shapes of eyes and mouths,
[10:22] Maomao
    but he's unable to view
    the parts together as a whole.
[10:24] Maomao
    I hear that everyone's faces
    look the same to him.
[10:27] Jinshi
    That's unfortunate.
[10:30] Maomao
    Yes, that's what my adopted father
    told me too, when he explained it to me.
[10:35] (Flashback) Luomen
    He's an unfortunate fellow.
    It has troubled him all throughout his life.
[10:40] (Flashback) Maomao
    Huh...
[10:43] Maomao
    But, for some reason,
[10:45] Maomao
    he's able to discern my face,
    and my adopted father's.
[10:49] Maomao
    That's why he has that
     strange attachment to me.
[10:54] Maomao
    Master Jinshi,
[10:55] Maomao
    if that monocled face came at you and told you,
     "Call me Papa!", how would you react?
[11:02] Jinshi
    I'd be tempted to shatter that monocle.
[11:04] Maomao
    Right?
[11:07] Maomao
    He keeps stressing that he's my father,
    but he's a stud-horse, at best.
[11:15] Maomao
    I wonder if he understood the message
    behind the withered rose?
[11:20] Maomao
    Well, it's fine if he didn't.
[11:25] Maomao
    I do dislike him, but I don't hate him.
[11:28] Maomao
    I'm grateful that I was able
    to become Luomen's daughter.
[11:32] Jinshi
    You seemed pretty disgusted when you saw him.
[11:36] Maomao
    Master Jinshi, you still have a lot to learn.
[11:40] Maomao
    When I tried to stop
    that ceremony, he helped me.
[11:45] Maomao
    I think he had the feeling
    something was going to happen.
[11:49] Jinshi
    The strategist? I didn't think he knew
    anything about it at that point.
[11:53] Maomao
    He doesn't collect evidence
    to make predictions like I do.
[11:57] Maomao
    He goes off gut feelings to sense when
    something's not right, and he's rarely wrong.
[12:05] Maomao
    The annoying part is that he's too lazy
    to actually do anything himself.
[12:11] Maomao
    If that guy actually took action,
[12:15] Maomao
    I might have had the resurrection
    drug in my hands right now!
[12:23] Maomao
    I know this is just jealousy.
[12:26] Maomao
    He's so talented that my dad would
    praise him with no caveats.
[12:29] Maomao
    He doesn't realize how blessed he is.
[12:34] Maomao
    Hmph!
[12:36] Maomao
    He will never become your ally, but you
    shouldn't make him your enemy, if possible.
[12:41] Jinshi
    Understood.
[12:44] Maomao
    What's wrong?
[12:46] Gaoshun
    Nothing, just...
[12:49] Gaoshun
    Please remember that
    no father wants to be disliked.
[13:00] Maomao
    A few days after returning to the rear palace,
[13:02] Maomao
    Meimei sent me a package.
[13:06] Maomao
    Inside was a letter
    describing who bought out who,
[13:10] Maomao
    and a beautiful shawl.
[13:13] Meimei
    Listen, Maomao.
[13:15] Meimei
    When I get bought out,
    you have to dance for me.
[13:27] Maomao
    To be honest, I wanted to send off Meimei.
[13:33] Maomao
    That courtesan, kinder than anyone else...
[15:51] Maomao
    I'm surprised I still remember all of that.
[15:56] Jinshi
    Hey.
[15:58] Jinshi
    Wha—
[16:08] Jinshi
    What are you doing?!
[16:09] Maomao
    Master Jinshi? Why are you here?
[16:13] Jinshi
    I got a report that another weird
    woman was climbing the outer wall.
[16:17] Jinshi
    I had no choice but to respond.
[16:19] Maomao
    I thought I was being sneaky, but...
[16:21] Maomao
    Of course I'd get caught.
[16:24] Jinshi
    Stop causing trouble.
[16:26] Maomao
    Why'd you have to be the one to investigate?
    They could have just sent someone else.
[16:32] Jinshi
    A kind guard recognized your face
    and came directly to me.
[16:38] Jinshi
    You might think you're keeping a low profile,
    but not everyone agrees. Remember that.
[16:42] Maomao
    Understood.
[16:44] Jinshi
    Now, your turn. What were you doing?
[16:50] Maomao
    In the pleasure district, when sending off
    a courtesan who's been bought out,
[16:54] Maomao
    it's customary for the other
    courtesans to dance.
[16:58] Maomao
    What is it?
[16:59] Jinshi
    Well, I'm surprised you know how to dance.
[17:05] Maomao
    I was taught dancing as part of
    the bare minimum of education.
[17:09] Jinshi
    There were rumors on the outside
    that the weirdo was buying out a courtesan.
[17:15] Maomao
    I'm sure there were.
[17:16] Jinshi
    He also sent a notice of leave.
[17:19] Jinshi
    He's going to take a vacation
    for at least ten days.
[17:22] Maomao
    What a troublesome man.
[17:24] Maomao
    My elder sister told me that
    they're hosting a banquet
[17:26] Maomao
    not just for three days and three nights,
[17:28] Maomao
    but a whole seven days and seven nights.
[17:32] Maomao
    There's no way to know how much
    he spent on the courtesan,
[17:35] Maomao
    but just from the number
    of lamps being put out,
[17:37] Maomao
    it's only natural to assume
    it's no normal courtesan.
[17:41] Maomao
    But the actual courtesan being
    bought out is never seen in public.
[17:48] Maomao
    Rumors of the Verdigris House continue to grow.
[17:52] Maomao
    Just how old Grams planned it.
[17:55] Jinshi
    By the way, who did
    the strategist buy out, anyway?
[17:59] Maomao
    Who knows?
[18:02] Jinshi
    You do.
[18:04] Maomao
    No matter how beautiful,
    she will be no match for you.
[18:07] Jinshi
    That doesn't answer my question.
[18:10] Maomao
    But you still don't deny it.
[18:12] Maomao
    The woman who the man
    bought out won't last long.
[18:18] Maomao
    Nobody told me about the woman who
    birthed me during my days at the brothel.
[18:24] Maomao
    The old lady probably kept everyone silent.
[18:28] Maomao
    But those types of things tend to leak out
    from seemingly small cracks.
[18:33] Maomao
    That I was the reason the Verdigris House
    almost went out of business, once.
[18:38] Maomao
    My relationship with the woman who always
    chased me off, ashamed for losing her pride.
[18:45] Maomao
    That nightmare was a thing
    that really happened in the past.
[18:52] Maomao
    That woman has no memories of being a mother.
[18:55] Maomao
    All she has now is a crooked little finger.
[19:01] Maomao
    None of that matters to me anymore.
[19:04] Maomao
    I'm happy to be Luomen's daughter.
[19:09] Maomao
    Master Jinshi.
[19:10] Jinshi
    What is it?
[19:13] Maomao
    You can cut off the tip of a finger
    and it grows back.
[19:18] Jinshi
    Is now the time for that?
[19:21] Maomao
    Whoa!
[19:23] Jinshi
    W-What happened?!
[19:25] Maomao
    Looks like my wound opened up.
[19:27] Jinshi
    Sure looks that way to me, too!
[19:29] Maomao
    I guess the dancing got my body warmed up.
[19:33] Maomao
    I have a high pain tolerance,
    perhaps due to my drug experiments.
[19:38] Maomao
    It's fine, I'll stitch it right back up.
[19:43] Maomao
    Master Jinshi, I can't work like this.
[19:46] Jinshi
    Don't do that here!
[19:56] Maomao
    Um, Master Jinshi—Whoa!
[20:01] Maomao
    Please let me down.
[20:03] Jinshi
    You'll open up your wound further.
[20:05] Maomao
    What if someone sees us?
[20:09] Jinshi
    It's too dark to see, anyway.
[20:12] Jinshi
    Besides, this is the second time
    I'm carrying you like this.
[20:15] Maomao
    The other time must have been when
    I was knocked out from that injury.
[20:20] Maomao
    Master Jinshi.
[20:22] Maomao
    This may not be the best time,
[20:24] Maomao
    but there's something I've meant
    to say for a long time.
[20:27] Jinshi
    What's this, all of a sudden?
[20:30] Maomao
    It's a very important thing I have to say.
[20:42] Jinshi
    Out with it, already.
[20:46] Maomao
    Master Jinshi...
[20:55] Maomao
    I'd like that ox bezoar, please.
[20:59] Maomao
    Ow!
[21:03] Maomao
    Wait, you don't have it?!
[21:06] Jinshi
    Don't be absurd!
[21:08] Jinshi
    I don't even...
[21:10] Maomao
    How immature, headbutting me out of nowhere.
[21:15] Maomao
    But I guess he's easiest to talk to
    when he's being immature.
[21:41] Yinghua
    Maomao!
[21:43] Yinghua
    Master Jinshi's here to see you!
[21:46] Maomao
    Coming.
[21:50] Maomao
    Excuse me.
[21:55] Jinshi
    Are you feeling better now?
[21:58] Maomao
    Yes. Everyone's very nice to me
    at the Jade Pavilion.
[22:06] Maomao
    So, how may I be of service?
[22:10] Jinshi
    Well, something interesting came up.
[22:17] Jinshi
    I'd like to ask something of you.
[22:20] Maomao
    Oh, this again.
[22:26] Maomao
    So, what is it that you
    would like for me to do?
[22:36] Narrator
    Maomao's story has just begun.
[22:41] Narrator
    What kind of incident
    will she get mixed up in next?
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SIGN    shad0.7\bord0.8}The Apothecary Diaries*
    Season 2 Production Confirmed