E14 - The New Pure Consort

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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.
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