# E4 - The Threat
Source: [Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/watch/GN7UD2E4M/the-threat)
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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
**[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