WEBVTT 00:04.560 --> 00:08.360 The Apothecary Diaries 00:08.360 --> 00:15.410 The Apothecary Diaries 01:30.980 --> 01:34.070 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. 01:52.000 --> 01:55.920 Episode 10: Honey 01:52.800 --> 01:56.380 I heard about the servant who drowned. It was a suicide! 01:56.380 --> 01:58.800 She was a servant at the Garnet Pavilion. 01:59.440 --> 02:03.790 I heard she was the one who poisoned Lady Lishu's food at the garden party... 02:03.790 --> 02:07.900 I wonder if she did it because she served Concubine Ah-Duo? 02:07.900 --> 02:09.650 You mean, Pure Consort Ah-Duo? 02:09.650 --> 02:12.650 Yeah. She's going to lose her title as one of the four consorts 02:12.650 --> 02:15.690 to be replaced by a new, younger concubine, I hear. 02:16.930 --> 02:21.270 Concubine Ah-Duo is one year older than the emperor, at 35 years old. 02:22.010 --> 02:26.500 She had a male baby with the emperor once, back when he was still a prince, but lost him. 02:27.060 --> 02:31.690 It's too bad, but the whole rear palace system is built for creating many babies. 02:33.650 --> 02:36.330 Mother of a dead male baby. 02:37.430 --> 02:42.340 Will the same thing happen to Lady Lihua, if she can't have another baby? 02:42.650 --> 02:47.600 There's no guarantee that Lady Gyokuyou will continue to have the emperor's love. 02:48.290 --> 02:51.270 Even the most beautiful flowers wilt over time. 02:51.840 --> 02:54.940 The flowers of the rear palace are meaningless unless they bear fruit. 02:55.610 --> 02:57.260 I gotta go now. 02:57.260 --> 02:58.980 Oh. Take this, too. 02:59.440 --> 03:01.550 They're leftovers from yesterday's tea party. 03:01.550 --> 03:02.570 Thanks! 03:02.570 --> 03:07.340 Enough snacks to have leftovers? Tea parties are awesome. 03:08.610 --> 03:09.910 I'm not so sure. 03:10.450 --> 03:13.920 A tea party is definitely a form of work for a concubine. 03:14.250 --> 03:16.000 Maomao, help us set up! 03:16.470 --> 03:17.690 Another one? 03:18.900 --> 03:21.260 You're working quite hard for this one. 03:21.260 --> 03:23.420 Obviously. This time, it's a high-ranked concubine, 03:23.420 --> 03:25.640 the Virtuous Consort, Lady Lishu! 03:26.440 --> 03:30.140 The politics of the rear palace is well-represented here. 03:30.680 --> 03:33.400 Welcome, Concubine Lishu. 03:34.280 --> 03:36.360 Thank you. 03:36.740 --> 03:39.110 Non-stop probing of each other's thoughts. 03:40.360 --> 03:45.120 Is it part of the nature of being a woman to be cautious of the same sex? 03:45.120 --> 03:49.030 To be honest, they seem more wary than when the emperor is here. 03:50.490 --> 03:54.430 The way Lady Gyokuyou gleans information through polite conversation 03:54.430 --> 03:57.170 shows how skilled of a concubine she is. 03:57.680 --> 04:00.920 I heard she sends the information she gathers to her family back home. 04:00.920 --> 04:06.840 Being a trade hub, it must be important to understand the times. 04:14.320 --> 04:16.640 The taster at the garden party. 04:16.640 --> 04:19.530 I'm glad to see she hasn't been too harshly punished. 04:20.800 --> 04:23.240 I'm not going to bite her head off or anything. 04:24.070 --> 04:27.700 The other servants aren't paying attention to their mistress at all. 04:28.280 --> 04:31.750 That said, it doesn't seem like they're actively harassing her, either. 04:32.400 --> 04:36.380 If my report to Master Gaoshun was mistaken, that's fortunate. 04:37.960 --> 04:40.340 Do you have any issues with sweets? 04:40.780 --> 04:42.260 I love sweets. 04:42.760 --> 04:43.760 Great. 04:45.240 --> 04:48.540 It's cold out, so I was wondering if you'd like this. 04:49.060 --> 04:54.300 It's orange peels boiled in honey. It'll warm you up. 04:56.560 --> 04:58.520 I hope you like it. 05:03.790 --> 05:06.240 Hmm? She can't handle honey, either? 05:06.510 --> 05:08.300 Is she being a picky eater again? 05:08.300 --> 05:10.530 She won't even eat something served to her? 05:10.820 --> 05:11.850 I know, right? 05:22.710 --> 05:23.930 Lady Gyokuyou. 05:25.660 --> 05:28.890 Oh, my. Ailan, I'm sorry. 05:28.890 --> 05:31.870 I think this one needs to be boiled a bit longer. 05:31.870 --> 05:33.720 Let me get you something else. 05:33.720 --> 05:35.740 How about hot ginger water? 05:36.680 --> 05:39.000 Yes, that's fine. 05:40.120 --> 05:44.570 Unfortunately, it seems like I wasn't wrong about the bullying. 05:48.740 --> 05:50.970 We'll clean up here. 05:50.970 --> 05:53.100 Maomao, you can rest. 05:53.770 --> 05:56.380 I can clean too, you know... 05:56.380 --> 05:59.500 How was the tea party for Concubines Gyokuyou and Lishu? 06:00.390 --> 06:05.100 I thought it was odd how that tea party happened so suddenly. 06:06.010 --> 06:08.220 So, it was this guy's idea, after all. 06:09.250 --> 06:11.760 They had a enjoyable time. 06:12.920 --> 06:15.050 I'm not done with you. 06:15.050 --> 06:16.850 Could you please let go? 06:19.440 --> 06:21.870 Did you hear that the garden party poisoning 06:21.870 --> 06:26.100 was done by the Garnet Pavilion servant who committed suicide? 06:26.520 --> 06:28.030 I heard the rumors. 06:29.520 --> 06:32.030 Do you think she really committed suicide? 06:33.780 --> 06:36.660 That's not for me to determine. 06:37.020 --> 06:42.380 Why would a common servant poison Concubine Lishu? 06:43.520 --> 06:44.840 I don't know. 06:51.280 --> 06:55.400 Well then, can you go help out at the Garnet Pavilion, starting tomorrow? 06:56.600 --> 07:01.500 "Can" I? It's not like I have a choice. 07:03.590 --> 07:04.660 Understood. 07:06.740 --> 07:09.980 Mansions are painted in their masters' colors, figuratively speaking. 07:10.790 --> 07:13.550 Concubine Gyokuyou's Jade Pavilion feels homey, 07:13.550 --> 07:17.340 while Concubine Lihua's Crystal Pavilion felt refined and noble. 07:17.870 --> 07:20.860 The Garnet Pavilion, home to Concubine Ah-Duo, 07:20.860 --> 07:23.820 was practical and simple, yet polished and classy. 07:24.330 --> 07:26.840 My apologies for summoning you so suddenly. 07:26.840 --> 07:29.980 I'm looking forward to working with you over the next three days. 07:30.590 --> 07:33.720 Master Jinshi didn't tell me to do anything specific. 07:33.720 --> 07:35.440 I guess I should just work. 07:35.440 --> 07:37.000 These are new faces. 07:37.560 --> 07:39.920 Fengming, who are they? 07:39.920 --> 07:42.090 Temporary help for our big cleaning day. 07:43.350 --> 07:45.860 I see. Thanks for the help. 07:46.560 --> 07:48.610 Ah-Duo, the Pure Consort. 07:49.240 --> 07:51.550 She's neither showy nor voluptuous, 07:51.550 --> 07:54.720 but she has an androgynous, almost gallant kind of beauty. 07:54.720 --> 07:57.120 She's really thirty-five? 07:57.120 --> 08:00.370 If she dressed differently, she'd pass as a young civil servant. 08:01.720 --> 08:06.570 She'd probably look better in a riding suit, instead of her skirt and dress. 08:15.730 --> 08:18.120 Whoa, those longing stares. 08:25.810 --> 08:28.420 Does she remind me of someone? 08:32.950 --> 08:34.950 Lady Fengming, the head lady-in-waiting. 08:35.510 --> 08:37.660 I expected the Pure Consort's head lady-in-waiting 08:37.660 --> 08:39.760 to be from an important family, 08:39.760 --> 08:41.450 but she's surprisingly approachable. 08:42.850 --> 08:45.710 Can you air the books out? 08:48.670 --> 08:51.760 You can ask the eunuchs to handle the heavy items. 08:54.440 --> 08:57.320 She really is the oldest high-ranking concubine. 08:57.320 --> 09:01.100 Despite the efficient look, the mansion has a whole lot of stuff. 09:04.100 --> 09:08.610 Similar to the Jade Pavilion, the servants at the Garnet Pavilion are hard workers. 09:08.610 --> 09:11.360 Certain fools who are all talk could learn a thing or two. 09:23.010 --> 09:23.910 Phew. 09:27.670 --> 09:29.290 I guess that's it. 09:29.290 --> 09:31.670 Incredible. You did this much already? 09:31.950 --> 09:37.120 And so thorough, too. Can you help with the parlor, as well? 09:37.120 --> 09:37.720 Yes. 09:38.370 --> 09:41.510 She's friendly, observant, and praises others well. 09:42.290 --> 09:46.040 Seems like she's skilled at handling others as head lady-in-waiting. 09:53.030 --> 09:56.780 I haven't done so much physical labor in a while. 09:59.910 --> 10:02.460 Good work. Thank you for your help today. 10:02.460 --> 10:03.240 You're welcome. 10:03.240 --> 10:06.910 Oh, I know. You'll be staying here tonight, correct? 10:06.910 --> 10:08.120 Follow me, please. 10:16.560 --> 10:18.220 A sweet smell? 10:18.220 --> 10:21.820 Please use this. It'll get cold tonight. 10:22.360 --> 10:23.680 Thank you. 10:24.450 --> 10:26.140 Rest well. 10:36.760 --> 10:40.700 Master Jinshi didn't tell me to do anything specific. 10:40.700 --> 10:41.770 But... 11:01.500 --> 11:05.260 Is the mastermind behind the poisoning really here? 11:05.600 --> 11:08.100 They really are all hard workers. 11:08.710 --> 11:10.600 Not just the ladies-in-waiting, but... 11:10.600 --> 11:14.270 Lady Fengming! We can take care of that! 11:14.270 --> 11:17.690 Don't worry about it. It's just something I noticed. 11:18.010 --> 11:20.430 Lady Fengming is the leading example. 11:20.430 --> 11:24.910 She's well past her prime, but would have made a great wife. 11:25.540 --> 11:27.910 I wonder if she never considered getting married. 11:28.470 --> 11:32.420 Did she choose to serve Concubine Ah-Duo for life? 11:33.250 --> 11:37.820 Strong loyalty is a possible motive for the poisoning. 11:38.760 --> 11:41.710 Now that a new concubine is about to enter, 11:41.710 --> 11:45.470 the high-ranking concubine at the most risk is Concubine Ah-Duo. 11:46.050 --> 11:48.470 But what if a vacancy opened up elsewhere first? 11:49.350 --> 11:52.330 The emperor is only interested in ripened fruit. 11:52.330 --> 11:54.900 He doesn't visit Lady Lishu. 11:55.350 --> 11:58.830 That's fine, given her age of fourteen, 11:58.830 --> 12:01.990 but one could also claim she's not serving her role as concubine. 12:02.760 --> 12:05.490 If someone were to poison someone for Concubine Ah-Duo, 12:05.960 --> 12:09.240 it wouldn't be out of the question to target Lady Lishu. 12:09.730 --> 12:11.580 Can someone help me out here? 12:13.740 --> 12:14.880 Honey? 12:14.880 --> 12:18.210 Lady Fengming's family runs an apiary. 12:18.960 --> 12:22.970 No wonder there's so much honey here, despite it being so expensive. 12:23.680 --> 12:26.800 That must have been the sweet smell from last night. 12:32.200 --> 12:33.770 Lady Lishu? 12:33.770 --> 12:36.520 Accompanied by just the one taster? 12:36.520 --> 12:38.730 Why is she at the Garnet Pavilion? 12:38.730 --> 12:40.530 Coming to think of it, at the tea party... 12:48.640 --> 12:51.540 That's what happened at the Garnet Pavilion. 12:52.680 --> 12:53.410 I see. 12:54.950 --> 12:55.920 And? 12:56.400 --> 12:58.920 That's it. No "and" or "but." 12:59.490 --> 13:03.920 I don't know what he wants. I'm just an apothecary. 13:04.480 --> 13:07.180 If he wants a spy, he's asking the wrong girl. 13:07.450 --> 13:10.650 What's with his casual attitude recently, anyway? 13:15.410 --> 13:17.500 Let's change the question, then. 13:17.500 --> 13:21.500 If one of them could contact the outside using some special method, 13:21.500 --> 13:22.570 who would that be, you think? 13:23.120 --> 13:25.570 What a roundabout way of asking. 13:26.710 --> 13:31.640 I suppose the only possibility would be Lady Fengming, the head lady-in-waiting. 13:31.640 --> 13:32.450 Based on what? 13:33.280 --> 13:36.000 She had bandages around her left wrist. 13:36.460 --> 13:42.000 Those colored text plates were wrapped in a woman's dress with burns on the sleeves. 13:43.030 --> 13:45.930 Why would anyone make multi-colored fires? 13:45.930 --> 13:48.970 One possibility is that it was a code. 13:49.590 --> 13:52.720 Honestly, that gentle head lady-in-waiting 13:52.720 --> 13:55.600 didn't seem like she was part of a conspiracy. 13:56.120 --> 13:58.600 But that's just my opinion. 14:01.860 --> 14:03.610 I suppose that's acceptable. 14:04.010 --> 14:09.240 I'm sure he knew this already, eating honey so ostentatiously. 14:11.460 --> 14:14.700 A good child needs to be rewarded. 14:15.950 --> 14:17.050 I r-respectfully decline. 14:17.050 --> 14:18.620 No need to be modest. 14:22.500 --> 14:25.340 No, thank you! Please offer it to someone else! 14:25.680 --> 14:29.300 This guy thinks he can get away with anything because he has a pretty face! 14:29.300 --> 14:31.800 Oh, right, that's the kind of pervert he's always been! 14:34.090 --> 14:35.100 Master Gaoshun! 14:37.140 --> 14:38.980 He's getting laxatives in his food later! 14:39.340 --> 14:40.980 Do you not like sweets? 14:40.980 --> 14:42.400 I like spicy foods. 14:42.820 --> 14:44.520 But you can eat this, right? 14:44.830 --> 14:47.280 Damn it, he won't listen... 14:47.280 --> 14:49.900 If he weren't so high up, I'd kick him in the groin... 14:49.900 --> 14:52.030 Wait, there's nothing to kick there. 14:52.030 --> 14:55.990 Should I just accept this as an order? Or escape to maintain my dignity? 15:01.860 --> 15:05.720 If this was aconite syrup, I'd have just accepted it. 15:08.420 --> 15:10.940 Do you have any issues with sweets? 15:10.940 --> 15:12.720 I hope you like it. 15:32.610 --> 15:33.740 Honey? 15:33.740 --> 15:37.370 Lady Fengming's family runs an apiary. 15:37.370 --> 15:38.290 Lady Lishu? 15:39.430 --> 15:40.730 Syrup... 15:44.070 --> 15:45.670 Honey. 15:47.760 --> 15:49.100 Apothecary? 15:49.100 --> 15:51.970 What are you doing to my lady-in-waiting? 15:55.330 --> 15:57.180 Concubine Gyokuyou! I was just— 15:57.180 --> 15:59.590 On whose authority are you doing this? 16:04.480 --> 16:08.620 Xiaomao, this was just a prank gone too far. 16:08.620 --> 16:11.160 Could you forgive Master Jinshi? 16:11.630 --> 16:15.630 In that case, next time you can do the licking for me, Master Gaoshun. 16:15.630 --> 16:20.040 L-Licking? That's a bit... 16:21.490 --> 16:22.790 Fine, you get the point. 16:23.750 --> 16:27.640 Also, there are a few things I want to check on. 16:31.060 --> 16:32.420 Excuse me. 16:32.700 --> 16:34.930 Welcome, I—Oh? 16:35.830 --> 16:37.770 Master Jinshi's not with you? 16:37.770 --> 16:40.140 I'm afraid not. Apologies for the sudden intrusion. 16:41.750 --> 16:45.100 So, what do you want, Jade Pavilion lady-in-waiting? 16:45.510 --> 16:47.230 I have a question for you. 16:53.780 --> 16:55.960 I remember you from the garden party. 16:57.170 --> 16:58.530 What is it? 16:59.670 --> 17:01.660 Do you dislike honey? 17:02.920 --> 17:04.620 How did you know?! 17:04.620 --> 17:06.230 I saw it on your face. 17:08.120 --> 17:11.280 Did honey upset your stomach in the past? 17:11.280 --> 17:15.350 It's common for someone to get food poisoning and have trouble with honey after that. 17:16.360 --> 17:19.240 That's not it. I don't remember. 17:19.240 --> 17:20.890 It was when I was a baby. 17:21.830 --> 17:24.680 I heard it was life-threatening. 17:24.680 --> 17:28.690 Banned 17:25.080 --> 17:28.690 Since then, my nurses told me to not eat it. 17:28.970 --> 17:32.280 Where are your manners? Probing Lady Lishu like that. 17:35.150 --> 17:38.520 Says the lady-in-waiting who didn't even try to protect her at the tea party. 17:38.520 --> 17:39.820 What's with that look? 17:39.820 --> 17:42.590 There's no need to listen to her. 17:42.590 --> 17:47.290 That's right, she's being rude to the Virtuous Consort. We should expel her! 17:47.290 --> 17:53.300 So this is how they paint outsiders as the villain to pretend they are the only allies. 17:53.730 --> 17:56.940 We're always looking out for Lady Lishu. 17:54.400 --> 17:58.660 It would be easy to trick a naive girl. 17:56.940 --> 17:58.540 Who does she think she is? 17:59.600 --> 18:03.720 The isolated concubine has nobody to rely on but her ladies-in-waiting. 18:03.720 --> 18:06.500 Not knowing she's being harassed... 18:07.410 --> 18:09.000 It's a vicious cycle. 18:10.770 --> 18:13.370 I am here on orders. 18:13.370 --> 18:17.570 If you have objections, please take them up with Master Jinshi. 18:17.570 --> 18:19.520 To Master J-Jinshi?! 18:19.520 --> 18:21.480 Directly?! 18:21.480 --> 18:24.330 He owes me this much, at the very least. 18:24.600 --> 18:29.290 Let's see what reasons they come up with to approach the pervert eunuch. 18:29.640 --> 18:31.700 And one more thing. 18:33.650 --> 18:35.770 Are you familiar with Lady Fengming, 18:36.900 --> 18:39.510 head lady-in-waiting at the Garnet Pavilion? 18:54.400 --> 18:55.230 Xiaomao? 18:55.910 --> 18:58.240 Master Gaoshun, is there any way I can learn about 18:58.240 --> 19:00.610 past events that happened in the rear palace? 19:04.100 --> 19:05.870 I can search the court library. 19:08.080 --> 19:09.870 Thank you. 19:15.010 --> 19:17.880 What did she figure out this time? 19:18.320 --> 19:22.170 She's a smart girl, especially given that she's only seventeen. 19:22.170 --> 19:24.140 Her knowledge and calm composure... 19:24.570 --> 19:28.300 Her ability to logically think through and deal with various issues... 19:29.890 --> 19:34.020 She does have some peculiarities, but it's still impressive. 19:36.900 --> 19:41.340 Seventeen years ago, when the current emperor was still a prince... 19:41.910 --> 19:45.840 He had a son with Concubine Ah-Duo. 19:45.840 --> 19:47.660 The baby's already gone, but... 19:48.420 --> 19:49.550 He was born around the same time 19:49.550 --> 19:51.470 as the prior emperor and empress dowager's son, 19:51.470 --> 19:54.670 In other words, the current emperor's little brother. 19:55.280 --> 19:58.320 That was the only child the emperor had as a prince, 19:58.320 --> 20:00.460 and Lady Ah-Duo was his only concubine. 20:01.400 --> 20:04.830 It says the current emperor and Concubine Ah-Duo are foster siblings, 20:04.830 --> 20:07.850 so that explains his attachment to her... 20:08.360 --> 20:12.500 But it's surprising to learn a man that lustful only had one concubine back then. 20:13.840 --> 20:19.130 Sixteen years ago, the baby died. The baby was delivered by... 20:15.880 --> 20:20.490 Doctor Luomen 20:23.920 --> 20:26.650 I did have that hunch. 20:27.670 --> 20:33.820 Several of the herbs growing in the rear palace were the same ones I used growing up. 20:34.250 --> 20:36.750 Someone must have transplanted them. 20:38.580 --> 20:42.330 A man who drags his feet like an old woman. 20:43.670 --> 20:48.010 A doctor overqualified for the position of a pleasure district apothecary. 20:49.760 --> 20:54.190 A former eunuch with a bone removed from one knee. 20:54.190 --> 20:56.940 ...Luomen, expelled... 20:55.380 --> 20:56.940 What were you doing, 20:58.500 --> 20:59.580 Dad? 21:06.040 --> 21:09.860 Not just some superficial sweetness 21:12.250 --> 21:17.180 I want more warmth than I can even use, oh 21:18.460 --> 21:23.510 Having these selfish idealistic thoughts 21:23.510 --> 21:28.080 I swallowed them again today before putting them into words 21:28.650 --> 21:33.250 Still in my memories, the scent of fragrant olive 21:33.250 --> 21:36.370 The color of twilight in the city 21:36.370 --> 21:41.190 We were laughing... 21:41.190 --> 21:53.100 Filled with sadness, the tears welled up in my eyes 21:53.630 --> 22:01.320 I found a glow during those days 22:01.320 --> 22:05.380 I guess I took everything for granted 22:06.000 --> 22:18.420 The wind was so loud I covered my ears 22:18.420 --> 22:25.960 I gotta stop being like that 22:25.960 --> 22:34.160 Even if I stumble over the words of love 22:34.950 --> 22:49.970 Next Time 22:46.510 --> 22:49.510 Next time: "Reducing Two to One." 22:46.550 --> 22:49.970 Episode 11: Reducing Two to One