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