WEBVTT 00:15.860 --> 00:17.120 Are you serious? 00:18.020 --> 00:20.360 So, what would you do? 00:20.360 --> 00:24.580 After all, you're the gardener maintaining my flower garden. 00:28.150 --> 00:30.000 He truly is cunning. 00:35.200 --> 00:36.760 How ironic. 00:38.100 --> 00:41.440 No matter how hard I try, both in intellect and martial arts, 00:41.440 --> 00:43.780 I can only slightly outperform a regular person. 00:44.660 --> 00:48.520 Instead, I am granted an appearance more beautiful than anyone. 00:51.200 --> 00:55.530 The things I truly want are so far out of reach. 00:59.020 --> 01:03.200 I was dissatisfied at first, but I've gotten over it. 01:03.990 --> 01:06.680 My sweet gaze, my sweet voice... 01:07.520 --> 01:10.960 I'll use my superior tools to my advantage. 01:13.010 --> 01:17.770 I'm aware that ultimately, I'm just a child floundering on the emperor's palm. 01:20.200 --> 01:21.880 As you wish. 01:22.740 --> 01:25.740 I'll manage his rear palace, or whatever else he wants. 01:27.700 --> 01:32.120 That's the only way I can choose my own path. 01:41.280 --> 01:45.080 The Apothecary Diaries 01:41.280 --> 01:45.700 The Apothecary Diaries 03:02.950 --> 03:04.950 Verdigris House 03:03.950 --> 03:06.950 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. 03:06.040 --> 03:08.300 I don't need this much, Big Sis. 03:08.300 --> 03:13.030 Sure, sure. Take this, this... Oh! And this, too. 03:08.620 --> 03:12.540 Episode 13: Serving in the Outer Court 03:13.560 --> 03:15.290 I'm not going to be using lipstick. 03:15.710 --> 03:19.170 What do you mean? Can't you put in the least bit of effort to look proper? 03:19.170 --> 03:23.110 Only courtesans have to get prettied up to go to work. 03:25.410 --> 03:27.840 I want to work with herbs... 03:27.840 --> 03:28.600 Ow! 03:28.600 --> 03:33.360 You've landed such a nice job at the palace! 03:33.360 --> 03:37.020 And you're telling me you can't dress up appropriately for the position? 03:37.020 --> 03:39.720 You have to be thankful for that every day. 03:39.720 --> 03:42.540 Otherwise, you'll lose your great customers. 03:42.990 --> 03:46.790 Meimei is really convincing. 03:46.790 --> 03:49.680 She's old enough to start considering retirement as a courtesan, 03:49.680 --> 03:52.000 but her popularity hasn't waned at all, 03:52.370 --> 03:54.160 because she has the intellect 03:54.160 --> 03:57.000 to entertain her customers through song, chess, and go. 03:57.000 --> 03:58.330 Maomao. 03:59.270 --> 04:00.840 Wow, what a huge package. 04:00.840 --> 04:03.520 Pairin, Joka. 04:09.950 --> 04:14.740 I'm glad you found a good workplace. Go make a fortune. 04:15.590 --> 04:16.810 Got it. 04:17.210 --> 04:20.780 If you could bring back some paying customers, that would be great too! 04:20.780 --> 04:23.880 Find some good, rich guys. 04:23.880 --> 04:26.320 Someone with vigor, pretty please! 04:26.320 --> 04:28.200 Uh, yeah... 04:28.200 --> 04:29.950 Verdigris House 04:30.470 --> 04:31.170 Verdigris House 04:32.200 --> 04:36.460 My new workplace... Or should I say, the workplace I'm returning to, 04:36.460 --> 04:39.500 is the area in the palace called the rear palace. 04:40.950 --> 04:43.950 It's a garden of women who are there to have children for the emperor. 04:43.950 --> 04:46.350 I was supposed to work here as a lowly servant girl, but... 04:45.840 --> 04:47.340 You with the freckles, stay here 04:46.350 --> 04:50.330 I solved the mystery of the dying infant heirs, which drew attention. 04:50.330 --> 04:52.960 I was promoted to lady-in-waiting for Lady Gyokuyou, 04:52.960 --> 04:56.780 then got sucked into various troubles as a food taster. 04:57.810 --> 05:00.990 After that, a bunch of stuff happened, leading to me getting fired. 05:00.990 --> 05:03.650 Who would've thought I'd be back again? 05:06.660 --> 05:09.580 I succumbed to the allure of the caterpillar fungus, 05:09.580 --> 05:12.240 but looking back, that might have been careless of me. 05:12.790 --> 05:16.000 Of course, seen from the outside, it's a huge lucky break. 05:16.530 --> 05:20.760 I do have some reservations about leaving my dad behind to go live elsewhere for work, 05:20.760 --> 05:23.470 but the rules are a lot less strict this time, 05:23.470 --> 05:25.630 and I'm not treated as missing anymore. 05:26.290 --> 05:29.010 Dad also said I should do as I like, but... 05:34.070 --> 05:36.540 What did he mean by that, I wonder? 05:38.950 --> 05:40.110 I'm home. 05:44.150 --> 05:46.070 They loaded you up, didn't they? 05:46.070 --> 05:52.530 What should I do? I definitely need my mortar and pestle, and my notebook. 05:52.530 --> 05:55.580 I can't bring less underwear— 05:55.580 --> 05:59.690 Maomao, you probably can't take those with you. 05:59.690 --> 06:00.380 Huh? 06:00.380 --> 06:01.920 You're not a doctor. 06:01.920 --> 06:07.720 Having such things would make you appear like you're plotting a poisoning. 06:09.590 --> 06:13.820 Come now, don't make that face. It was your decision to go. 06:13.820 --> 06:16.240 You can't back out now. 06:16.240 --> 06:17.530 Really? 06:17.530 --> 06:21.880 You should be able to gradually get permission to bring more things in. 06:21.880 --> 06:26.160 Get ready and go to sleep. Tomorrow is your first day. 06:26.160 --> 06:27.650 Fine... 06:40.420 --> 06:44.250 Well, you haven't done this in a while. 06:44.540 --> 06:47.500 I thought you weren't a baby anymore. 06:47.500 --> 06:49.510 Well, it's cold. 06:51.090 --> 06:53.950 We'll be lonely again. 06:53.950 --> 06:57.770 Not really. This time, I can come back any time I want. 07:01.620 --> 07:05.400 You're right. You can come home any time you want. 07:07.240 --> 07:08.610 I have no mother. 07:09.540 --> 07:13.470 But I have a caring dad, a nosy old granny, 07:13.470 --> 07:15.910 and a lively group of big sisters to keep me company. 07:18.130 --> 07:20.540 I can come home any time. 07:27.040 --> 07:29.010 Thank you for waiting, Master Jinshi. 07:40.280 --> 07:42.860 Please take care of our little girl. 07:43.990 --> 07:46.730 We got her all dolled up for you. 07:46.730 --> 07:49.130 Don't you forget, Maomao. 07:49.130 --> 07:52.040 I know. Good customers, right? 07:52.760 --> 07:54.280 Good. Now go on. 07:54.280 --> 07:57.370 What a way to start the morning. 07:58.580 --> 07:59.910 Let's go. 08:01.140 --> 08:02.410 Uh, yeah. 08:02.880 --> 08:03.960 Take care. 08:05.090 --> 08:06.460 I'm off. 08:07.330 --> 08:08.800 She's pretty. 08:08.800 --> 08:11.420 Have you ever seen her at the Verdigris House before? 08:15.320 --> 08:17.390 This is your fault, Master Jinshi. 08:17.390 --> 08:18.140 Hmm? 08:18.660 --> 08:20.750 I got a lot of unwanted attention. 08:20.750 --> 08:21.930 That's because you're... 08:28.000 --> 08:29.270 What is it? 08:29.770 --> 08:30.780 Nothing. 08:49.210 --> 08:51.930 Good work. May we proceed? 08:51.930 --> 08:52.760 Yes! 08:55.410 --> 08:59.280 Apothecary. While you're here, go back to your usual freckled face. 08:59.280 --> 09:00.350 Huh? 09:01.380 --> 09:02.820 Understood. 09:13.830 --> 09:16.110 Hey, I heard the manager of the rear palace 09:16.110 --> 09:18.940 bought out a courtesan from the Verdigris House. 09:18.940 --> 09:22.780 The Verdigris House? Is that where the famous Three Princesses are? 09:22.780 --> 09:24.910 The Verdigris House? 09:29.640 --> 09:31.660 What is this guy doing? 09:34.260 --> 09:36.020 And this is? 09:36.880 --> 09:38.270 My house. 09:38.270 --> 09:40.050 Huh?! Why?! 09:40.400 --> 09:42.970 This is your new workplace. 09:44.020 --> 09:49.050 Master Gaoshun, I was under the impression we were returning to the rear palace... 09:49.050 --> 09:53.990 We fired you once already, so we can't just put you back in the same position. 09:53.990 --> 09:56.570 You will be working in the outer court now. 09:56.570 --> 09:58.160 The outer court... 09:58.160 --> 10:01.820 Yes. The rear palace is considered the inner court. 10:01.820 --> 10:04.080 The outer court lies outside of that. 10:04.560 --> 10:08.140 There are many public offices there. I'll show you around later. 10:09.700 --> 10:12.840 Welcome home. It must have been cold. 10:19.890 --> 10:24.100 I am Suiren, his attendant. You must be Xiaomao. 10:24.430 --> 10:26.060 Y-Yes. 10:27.090 --> 10:28.440 Xiaomao? 10:33.320 --> 10:35.340 There are two separate buildings, 10:35.340 --> 10:38.200 one with the office and one with the personal residence. 10:38.630 --> 10:41.700 The area ahead is the young master's room, but... 10:42.070 --> 10:43.210 "Young master?" 10:44.180 --> 10:46.630 You should be all right. 10:48.160 --> 10:51.880 This room's about the same size as the one I used at the Jade Pavilion. 10:51.880 --> 10:55.250 If this place had a stove and a nearby well... 10:55.250 --> 10:59.720 Still, this place seems too well-built for a servant girl's quarters. 10:59.720 --> 11:01.320 Xiaomao? 11:01.320 --> 11:02.430 Yes. 11:02.990 --> 11:06.310 I don't intend to make you do servant labor. 11:06.310 --> 11:07.270 Huh? 11:07.910 --> 11:10.390 I told you, you're going to work in the outer court. 11:18.640 --> 11:20.900 You're going to take the court lady exam. 11:21.510 --> 11:24.410 C-Court lady exam?! 11:38.950 --> 11:43.470 A cotton garment? That's generous. 11:53.300 --> 11:55.850 Good morning, Lady Suiren. 11:55.850 --> 11:59.700 Oh, good morning, Xiaomao. It's good that you wake up early. 12:00.200 --> 12:01.320 I'll help. 12:01.320 --> 12:03.850 It's fine, I'm almost done. 12:04.360 --> 12:06.410 Can you just help serve? 12:06.410 --> 12:10.240 Yes. Um, where are the other attendants? 12:10.240 --> 12:11.250 There are none. 12:12.550 --> 12:17.340 The office side is fine, but I couldn't let anyone handle the personal side. 12:17.960 --> 12:20.840 The young master's food is especially out of the question. 12:21.160 --> 12:24.170 So, you do all of this work by yourself? 12:24.170 --> 12:27.950 We had some new girls a few times, 12:27.950 --> 12:30.850 but well, things happen, and they don't last. 12:31.400 --> 12:33.790 Did they lace his food with aphrodisiacs? 12:33.790 --> 12:35.190 Or try to steal things? 12:35.480 --> 12:40.840 I mean, who likes finding unfamiliar underwear in their closet? 12:40.840 --> 12:41.540 Huh? 12:42.040 --> 12:46.040 On top of that, it was made of hair. 12:46.970 --> 12:48.640 That sounds like a lot. 12:48.640 --> 12:50.660 Yes, it certainly was. 12:51.890 --> 12:53.910 Come, young master, please wake up. 12:53.910 --> 12:55.990 It's time for breakfast. 13:03.840 --> 13:06.460 So much wasted sex appeal... 13:06.460 --> 13:11.310 I can see why only Master Gaoshun and Lady Suiren enter this room. 13:11.310 --> 13:14.760 A woman who saw this would lose herself easily. 13:14.760 --> 13:17.660 A man would pounce on him right away. 13:17.660 --> 13:21.620 He truly has a sin-inducing air about him. 13:21.620 --> 13:23.990 Sort of like an insect in mating season. 13:24.870 --> 13:28.820 I wonder if I could collect this eunuch's scent and sell it as an aphrodisiac? 13:30.400 --> 13:34.040 If you want, I can get you a new room. 13:34.920 --> 13:36.680 What brings this about? 13:36.680 --> 13:39.940 I don't get it, but is this my chance to get a stove and well?! 13:43.380 --> 13:46.910 He needs to tell me clearly if he wants me to understand. 13:46.910 --> 13:49.640 I can manage the stove somehow, so for starters... 13:52.070 --> 13:55.640 In that case, how about a stable with a well nearby? 13:57.720 --> 13:58.850 A stable. 13:59.180 --> 14:01.020 Yes, a stable. 14:03.190 --> 14:04.730 No stables. 14:10.420 --> 14:12.510 So, shall we? 14:12.510 --> 14:14.420 Yes, please. 14:15.660 --> 14:18.460 Master Jinshi got left behind. 14:19.160 --> 14:22.960 I assumed he had nothing to do, since he was always loitering in the rear palace, 14:22.960 --> 14:25.000 but he's actually pretty busy. 14:25.710 --> 14:29.720 There are many military officers on the east side of this area, 14:30.000 --> 14:32.020 so please stay away if possible. 14:33.350 --> 14:34.470 Understood. 14:35.600 --> 14:37.980 The palace he showed me around was huge. 14:37.980 --> 14:39.760 I needed more than all my fingers and toes 14:39.760 --> 14:41.980 to count all the named buildings and departments. 14:42.360 --> 14:44.900 Can I learn them all? 14:45.540 --> 14:49.910 My ability to learn about things I'm not interested in is below average. 14:53.380 --> 14:55.150 This is the Director of Waters. 14:55.150 --> 14:59.510 It's the department in charge of rivers, dams, and water utilization projects. 14:59.510 --> 15:00.540 I see. 15:02.360 --> 15:07.050 The rear palace had more medicinal ingredients. 15:07.830 --> 15:11.050 My dad must have planted them while he worked there. 15:11.050 --> 15:15.960 Xiaomao, when you become a court lady, the outer court will be your workplace. 15:15.960 --> 15:16.930 Yes. 15:17.890 --> 15:19.730 Court lady, huh? 15:28.050 --> 15:30.920 Oh, good timing, Xiaomao. 15:30.920 --> 15:33.710 Can you take this charcoal to the office? 15:33.710 --> 15:34.530 Yes. 15:38.570 --> 15:39.930 Excuse me. 15:46.650 --> 15:49.670 So, this is Master Jinshi's office. 15:50.440 --> 15:53.260 It's not extravagant, but everything here is top class. 15:53.260 --> 15:56.600 How high up is our young master? 16:02.220 --> 16:06.480 Sizing up the new girl? Not a good atmosphere. 16:09.590 --> 16:12.990 The court ladies of the outer court are like secretaries. 16:13.650 --> 16:16.990 They have the right qualifications, background, and education. 16:17.380 --> 16:20.970 They're nothing like the hodgepodge of female officials at the rear palace. 16:20.970 --> 16:23.000 Which explains their high self-esteem... 16:25.830 --> 16:26.500 Hmm? 16:28.210 --> 16:32.740 And therefore, they won't go out of their way to clean, since that's not their job. 16:35.800 --> 16:38.680 Just who do you think you are? 16:39.080 --> 16:41.470 I guess they grow well when they're fed well. 16:43.120 --> 16:44.250 Are you listening?! 16:44.250 --> 16:47.310 Why is someone like you assigned directly to Master Jinshi?! 16:50.850 --> 16:54.940 I guess staying quiet would irritate them more. 16:55.990 --> 16:59.780 In other words, you're all jealous of me? 17:01.240 --> 17:03.000 Watch your mouth! 17:03.480 --> 17:05.400 Wrong choice of words. 17:06.390 --> 17:07.660 Fine, then. 17:08.440 --> 17:11.670 Are you implying I'm getting special treatment? 17:12.920 --> 17:15.480 There's no way that could be right. 17:15.480 --> 17:20.700 Why would he, a heavenly maiden of a person, fall for an ugly girl like me? 17:22.220 --> 17:26.480 Does the noble figure in your mind have such bad taste? 17:27.040 --> 17:30.270 Would he go out of his way to eat meatless chicken bones, 17:30.270 --> 17:34.490 when there are heaps of delicious abalones and boar meat in front of him? 17:34.800 --> 17:38.820 If that's the case, well, he must have some interesting proclivities. 17:39.160 --> 17:43.500 I don't really get it myself, but does he truly have "special tastes"? 17:44.020 --> 17:45.690 I see, so it's a "special taste"— 17:45.690 --> 17:47.720 T-That's impossible! 17:47.720 --> 17:48.710 R-Right! 17:48.970 --> 17:51.670 Why did he hire you, then? 17:56.640 --> 17:58.050 This is the reason. 18:04.560 --> 18:07.390 I just tried out some burn medicine the other day, 18:07.390 --> 18:09.450 so it's really messed up right now. 18:09.450 --> 18:10.810 Stings! 18:11.130 --> 18:16.100 That heavenly maiden has a heavenly heart, too. 18:16.100 --> 18:20.280 He gives a person like me a way to make a living. 18:22.680 --> 18:23.940 Let's go. 18:32.550 --> 18:34.040 Done and done. 18:34.480 --> 18:36.070 "Interesting proclivities..." 18:37.880 --> 18:41.530 Do you get harassed like that a lot? 18:41.530 --> 18:44.060 Besides, why are you raising your left arm— 18:44.060 --> 18:46.810 I'm off to my next cleaning duty. 18:47.860 --> 18:49.800 Are you studying? 18:49.800 --> 18:51.400 Sneak, sneak. 18:51.400 --> 18:52.000 Hey! 18:52.000 --> 18:53.770 Sneak, sneak! 19:13.650 --> 19:15.050 Xiaomao. 19:16.210 --> 19:18.120 Please be quiet. 19:25.970 --> 19:29.140 And thus, the day of the exams came. 19:31.970 --> 19:33.230 Why did you fail? 19:34.100 --> 19:36.150 Why did you think I'd pass? 19:37.170 --> 19:41.150 Maomao became Jinshi's personal servant. 19:42.690 --> 19:44.390 What should we do? 19:44.390 --> 19:46.370 What should we do, indeed? 20:17.080 --> 20:18.180 Ow! 20:20.470 --> 20:24.110 There shouldn't be any reason for you to go beyond this point. 20:24.460 --> 20:27.140 Could you say that before you hit me? 20:28.720 --> 20:32.900 The scent of sandalwood, mixed with another, distinctly bitter smell. 20:44.000 --> 20:45.720 The military, huh? 22:34.910 --> 22:49.930 Next Time 22:46.260 --> 22:49.220 Next time: "The New Pure Consort." 22:46.460 --> 22:49.930 Episode 14: The New Pure Consort 22:49.930 --> 22:51.930