E7 - Homecoming

Source: Crunchyroll
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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.
[01:35] (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