WEBVTT 00:04.560 --> 00:08.360 The Apothecary Diaries 00:08.360 --> 00:15.410 The Apothecary Diaries 01:29.980 --> 01:31.980 Jade Pavilion Maomao 01:33.590 --> 01:35.190 What should I do... 01:35.880 --> 01:37.500 What should we do? 01:36.030 --> 01:39.030 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. 01:39.700 --> 01:41.160 After Fengming's execution, 01:41.620 --> 01:44.360 her family's assets were confiscated, 01:44.360 --> 01:47.850 and all underwent varying degrees of corporal punishment. 01:49.430 --> 01:52.410 Fengming was determined to be the sole perpetrator, 01:52.830 --> 01:56.470 so fortunately, her mistress Concubine Ah-Duo was not blamed. 01:58.440 --> 02:03.980 And now, here is the list of Fengming's family members and those connected to them. 02:04.620 --> 02:08.710 The list includes those who did business with them. 02:08.710 --> 02:11.690 They had many businesses in addition to apiculture. 02:11.690 --> 02:15.610 There are about eighty children of those families here in the rear palace. 02:15.930 --> 02:18.310 Eighty out of two thousand, huh? 02:18.920 --> 02:21.030 That's quite a hit ratio. 02:21.050 --> 02:23.800 Jade Pavilion Maomao 02:24.370 --> 02:29.370 The family that the apothecary was kidnapped and sold off to was one such family. 02:30.090 --> 02:32.590 If you wish, we could conceal this. 02:32.980 --> 02:34.820 If "I" wish... 02:35.460 --> 02:37.010 Indeed. 02:37.860 --> 02:40.250 It doesn't matter if it's right or wrong. 02:40.250 --> 02:42.360 If I say so, it will be done. 02:43.270 --> 02:46.560 Given how she likes to separate the commoners from the nobles, 02:46.560 --> 02:49.390 she'd obey any order, no matter how much she disagrees. 02:54.190 --> 02:56.520 It would be simple to give the order. 02:56.520 --> 02:58.440 I should just simply give the order. 02:59.110 --> 03:02.870 Conceal the facts, and keep her at the rear palace. 03:03.560 --> 03:07.990 But if that goes against her will... 03:08.540 --> 03:14.490 How would she feel, if she learned she'd been forced to stay in a place she disliked so? 03:18.420 --> 03:23.300 I'm so afraid of the rift between the two of us widening any further. 03:24.970 --> 03:26.100 Master Jinshi. 03:27.360 --> 03:30.230 I thought she was just a convenient pawn. 03:34.640 --> 03:35.860 Mass layoffs? 03:35.860 --> 03:37.260 Yep. 03:36.900 --> 03:40.860 Episode 12: The Eunuch and the Courtesan 03:37.260 --> 03:42.610 The daughters of anyone who did business with that family are being let go. 03:42.610 --> 03:45.920 And it seems like there's quite a few of them. 03:45.920 --> 03:47.330 Huh... 03:47.330 --> 03:51.580 There are girls around who have to quit all of a sudden and are in a real bind. 03:51.580 --> 03:54.380 I guess that family really did a lot of business. 03:55.510 --> 03:57.670 I have a bad feeling about this. 03:58.160 --> 04:01.120 Getting fired now would be bad. 04:01.120 --> 04:02.490 It's just bad timing. 04:02.490 --> 04:07.820 After Lihaku, I haven't been able to send any more paying customers to the old lady. 04:07.820 --> 04:09.180 If I go back now... 04:09.630 --> 04:10.860 I'm home. 04:11.440 --> 04:13.560 You have a customer! 04:14.260 --> 04:16.560 She'll sell me off for sure! 04:17.880 --> 04:18.860 Maomao?! 04:25.450 --> 04:32.620 Last I checked, the family on my paperwork were merchants. 04:40.580 --> 04:42.970 If Fengming's family ran an apiary, 04:43.520 --> 04:46.680 there might be some sort of connection... 05:30.130 --> 05:31.350 Master Jinshi! 05:42.890 --> 05:45.240 That's rare. You're out of breath. 05:46.100 --> 05:46.820 Uh... 05:46.820 --> 05:49.280 Calm down. You're red all over. 05:49.820 --> 05:51.780 I would like to talk to you! 05:52.480 --> 05:55.540 Sure. Let's speak inside. 05:57.590 --> 05:59.790 This is about the mass layoffs, I take it? 05:59.790 --> 06:03.810 Yes. What's going to happen to me? 06:03.810 --> 06:04.980 Here's the list. 06:05.090 --> 06:07.510 Jade Pavilion Maomao 06:08.200 --> 06:11.010 So, I'm being let go. 06:12.770 --> 06:13.720 What do you want to do? 06:18.900 --> 06:21.230 I thought she was just a convenient pawn. 06:26.160 --> 06:28.410 As Lady Gyokuyou's lady-in-waiting, 06:28.410 --> 06:31.840 I can test for poisons and hang out in the medical office. 06:31.840 --> 06:34.760 I have to admit I'm enjoying my current life. 06:35.960 --> 06:38.490 But I'm just a servant, after all. 06:38.950 --> 06:42.330 I'm in no position to request to stay. 06:43.120 --> 06:45.640 I have to make sure I don't appear like I'm begging. 06:47.240 --> 06:49.510 I am a mere servant. 06:49.870 --> 06:56.520 I'll do as you order, whether it be manual labor, cooking, or tasting. 06:57.480 --> 06:58.890 As I order... 06:59.340 --> 07:03.660 Yes. I'll do my best, if ordered to do so. 07:03.660 --> 07:06.360 If I take a pay cut, so be it. 07:06.760 --> 07:10.650 As long as I can buy time before getting sold off, I'll figure something out. 07:12.990 --> 07:15.450 So please, don't fire me! 07:18.200 --> 07:19.540 Understood. 07:19.870 --> 07:20.960 Do you mean... 07:21.830 --> 07:23.420 I'll make sure you're compensated. 07:25.440 --> 07:26.490 Huh? 07:26.490 --> 07:30.720 Negotiation failed. Maomao is let go. 07:32.660 --> 07:34.340 There we go. 07:42.770 --> 07:45.420 How long are you going to stay like that? 07:46.870 --> 07:49.670 Perhaps you should have ordered her to stay. 07:49.670 --> 07:50.860 Not another word. 07:53.220 --> 07:55.320 A week after being fired, 07:55.640 --> 07:58.380 Xiaomao went home to the pleasure district. 07:59.490 --> 08:01.120 I heard she politely went around 08:01.120 --> 08:05.140 saying her farewells to every single place she had business with. 08:06.210 --> 08:08.250 You're going to regret this. 08:09.090 --> 08:15.890 Finding a new toy to replace his favorite one has always been a challenge. 08:15.890 --> 08:18.890 No! I want that one! 08:19.830 --> 08:20.640 Or perhaps... 08:21.280 --> 08:25.150 That girl should not be treated as the same as a toy. 08:25.880 --> 08:29.770 He only let her go because he didn't want to treat her as a tool. 08:30.600 --> 08:33.860 What a troublesome master he is. 08:34.390 --> 08:36.280 If finding a replacement won't do... 08:36.920 --> 08:39.370 Perhaps I can speak to that military officer. 08:40.220 --> 08:44.040 Wah, wah, boo-hoo, sob, sob... 08:50.550 --> 08:53.550 You do look much better without your freckles. 08:53.550 --> 08:56.460 You can use my lipstick. 08:56.460 --> 09:00.260 I never thought I'd be going to a party with Maomao. 09:00.620 --> 09:05.310 My workplace tonight is a noble's party outside the brothel. 09:05.310 --> 09:08.830 Calling a courtesan to one's own mansion costs quite a sum. 09:08.830 --> 09:09.770 In addition... 09:10.340 --> 09:12.620 A night of drinks with one of the Verdigris House's Princesses 09:12.620 --> 09:14.280 costs what most make in a year. 09:14.280 --> 09:17.780 So to call on all three at once... 09:18.140 --> 09:21.290 I guess there's no limit to how rich a rich person can be. 09:21.830 --> 09:26.440 I'm going with you, but just so you look better by comparison. 09:26.440 --> 09:27.920 Here you go, Maomao. 09:28.680 --> 09:32.440 Because I was paid more than expected when leaving the rear palace, 09:32.440 --> 09:34.950 I was able to avoid getting sold off immediately. 09:36.680 --> 09:39.130 That's an important job, too. 09:39.130 --> 09:41.040 Looking forward to it, Maomao. 09:41.040 --> 09:43.810 Oh! So cute. 09:43.810 --> 09:46.390 It's time! Hurry up! Hmm? 09:49.400 --> 09:52.220 Well, well, that's not bad at all. 09:52.220 --> 09:54.860 You could take on customers of your own too, you know. 09:57.830 --> 10:01.990 The old lady really wants me to become a courtesan. 10:03.090 --> 10:04.700 Go make a fortune! 10:05.440 --> 10:08.380 I can't recite poetry or play the erhu. 10:08.380 --> 10:10.710 Dancing is out of the question. 10:10.710 --> 10:14.730 I'm just an apothecary's daughter, with no interest outside of medicine. 10:14.730 --> 10:18.220 So why is she so insistent, especially these past few years? 10:38.420 --> 10:41.490 This person sure is loaded. 10:42.170 --> 10:45.280 Every piece of furniture is unimaginably expensive. 10:45.280 --> 10:48.250 I'm sure they wouldn't notice one thing taken as a souvenir... 10:48.820 --> 10:50.080 No! Knock it off. 10:50.080 --> 10:52.580 This room, please. 11:01.090 --> 11:04.600 I heard Master Lihaku introduced us to these high-ranking palace officials. 11:05.190 --> 11:07.430 They're younger than I expected. 11:07.820 --> 11:08.940 Yum. 11:09.730 --> 11:11.780 Come, let's go. 11:14.480 --> 11:19.420 If he knows so many rich people, he should have introduced them to me sooner. 11:19.420 --> 11:23.470 With his connections, I could have lessened my loan amount. 11:24.770 --> 11:26.740 Anyway, off to work. 12:25.020 --> 12:28.970 Work is work, but staying all smiles is quite an ordeal. 12:29.520 --> 12:31.730 Hmm? Is he bored? 12:33.080 --> 12:34.990 Excuse me. 12:34.990 --> 12:36.630 Leave me alone. 12:37.830 --> 12:39.820 I want to be alone. 12:39.820 --> 12:43.570 Huh? Where have I heard this voice before? 12:49.100 --> 12:50.240 Master Jinshi? 12:53.170 --> 12:54.730 Why avoid me? 12:54.730 --> 12:56.880 Please don't touch the courtesans. 12:56.880 --> 13:00.840 Do people tell you that makeup changes you considerably? 13:00.840 --> 13:02.620 I do get that a lot. 13:02.620 --> 13:04.890 Besides, why are you dressed like that? 13:04.890 --> 13:06.620 I'm working part-time. 13:06.620 --> 13:08.020 As a courtesan? 13:08.020 --> 13:08.890 Yes. 13:09.510 --> 13:10.810 Does that mean you're... 13:11.250 --> 13:15.560 This guy is really prone to casting doubt on my chastity. 13:15.560 --> 13:18.400 I don't take personal customers. 13:19.090 --> 13:19.940 Yet. 13:20.740 --> 13:21.760 "Yet..." 13:22.690 --> 13:25.270 So, what if I bought you out? 13:25.860 --> 13:27.850 Huh? What kind of joke is— 13:29.460 --> 13:31.240 That might be a good idea. 13:32.960 --> 13:36.620 Working in the rear palace again wouldn't be too bad. 13:38.120 --> 13:40.880 I thought you quit because you hated it there. 13:40.880 --> 13:44.030 Huh? When did I ever say that? 13:44.030 --> 13:47.630 I tried convincing you to let me stay, but you fired me anyway. 13:48.820 --> 13:51.390 True, there was a lot of trouble. 13:51.780 --> 13:55.800 But where else would I be able to perform as a taster? 13:55.800 --> 13:59.400 The only thing I missed were my poison experiments. 14:02.270 --> 14:04.780 You should really stop experimenting with poison. 14:05.070 --> 14:08.620 He's even more childish today than before. 14:09.020 --> 14:12.730 That's right. That's the kind of person you are. 14:12.730 --> 14:13.790 What does that mean? 14:13.790 --> 14:16.670 Do people ever say that you don't express yourself clearly? 14:16.670 --> 14:18.000 I do get that a lot. 14:21.530 --> 14:23.130 So why flinch? 14:23.130 --> 14:24.540 Rules are rules. 14:24.540 --> 14:26.110 Can't you bend them a bit? 14:26.110 --> 14:26.910 No. 14:26.910 --> 14:28.410 It's not the end of the world. 14:28.410 --> 14:29.680 It's ending my spirit. 14:29.680 --> 14:31.640 Just one hand. Just the tip of my fingers. 14:32.210 --> 14:35.640 That's right, this guy can be really persistent. 14:37.510 --> 14:39.440 Fine, just the fingers. 14:52.880 --> 14:54.220 This guy! 14:54.220 --> 14:56.030 The color sticks! 14:57.060 --> 14:58.760 Goodness, what's this? 14:59.410 --> 15:00.730 Oh, Maomao. 15:00.730 --> 15:01.880 I can't watch. 15:01.880 --> 15:03.770 Come on, big sisters! 15:03.770 --> 15:06.550 Master Gaoshun?! What? Huh?! 15:07.000 --> 15:09.840 I couldn't make sense of any of it. 15:09.840 --> 15:12.550 I don't remember much of what happened after that. 15:12.550 --> 15:13.800 So, who was that? 15:13.800 --> 15:15.130 How do you know him? 15:15.130 --> 15:16.890 Not bad, you! 15:16.890 --> 15:22.900 I do remember that it was really hard answering all my big sisters' questions. 15:22.900 --> 15:25.160 Verdigris House 15:27.150 --> 15:28.650 And... 15:28.650 --> 15:30.890 I should make some, just in case. 15:30.890 --> 15:33.660 Wandering around without my freckles leads to no good. 15:34.640 --> 15:36.910 That was winter last year... 15:40.120 --> 15:42.140 Getting kidnapped was enough of a surprise, 15:42.140 --> 15:44.790 but to be sold off to the rear palace, of all places... 15:47.930 --> 15:50.760 Then to get promoted to a lady-in-waiting. 15:54.510 --> 15:58.790 I wanted to lay low until my term was over, but... 15:58.790 --> 16:01.320 Maomao. Is it ready? 16:01.320 --> 16:02.860 Yeah, here. 16:04.020 --> 16:07.360 I need you to take a look at someone. Can you come with me? 16:07.360 --> 16:08.440 Got it. 16:22.740 --> 16:24.540 The rear palace, huh? 16:24.540 --> 16:27.750 I really wanted to avoid that place at all costs. 16:32.920 --> 16:35.510 I wonder if everyone's okay. 16:39.510 --> 16:41.020 Oh, I'll get out. 16:41.020 --> 16:44.470 Take your time. You don't get to come here all the time. 16:45.330 --> 16:46.150 Yeah. 16:51.860 --> 16:54.030 What are you going to do from now on? 16:54.030 --> 16:55.920 I'll pay back my loans, I promise. 16:55.920 --> 16:57.640 That's a given! 16:59.640 --> 17:02.100 Are you going back to the rear palace? 17:03.890 --> 17:05.140 I don't know. 17:06.880 --> 17:11.680 But... the rear palace and the brothels are pretty similar. 17:11.680 --> 17:13.380 Hmm. 17:25.960 --> 17:27.830 Having trouble sleeping? 17:28.470 --> 17:30.650 I'm going to go get some air. 17:30.650 --> 17:32.300 Take care. 17:32.300 --> 17:33.030 I will. 18:04.850 --> 18:08.680 The rear palace and the brothels are no different. 18:08.680 --> 18:11.450 A garden, and a cage. 20:16.360 --> 20:19.690 What's going to happen from now on? 20:26.390 --> 20:27.370 It's freezing. 20:31.200 --> 20:32.710 Verdigris House 20:32.710 --> 20:38.460 A few days later, a beautiful noble comes to the pleasure district. 20:41.460 --> 20:44.510 With him, he brings enough cash to make the old lady's eyes glisten, 20:44.510 --> 20:46.260 and for some reason... 20:49.360 --> 20:53.140 A strange herb growing from an insect... 20:57.430 --> 21:00.260 And in exchange, he asks for a certain girl. 21:02.990 --> 21:04.990 The Apothecary Diaries 22:34.990 --> 22:50.010 Next Time 22:46.630 --> 22:49.340 Next time: "Serving in the Outer Court." 22:46.670 --> 22:50.010 Episode 13: Serving in the Outer Court