WEBVTT 00:13.740 --> 00:19.450 The Apothecary Diaries 00:13.740 --> 00:19.450 The Apothecary Diaries 01:30.480 --> 01:33.480 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. 01:40.370 --> 01:41.240 Is this authentic? 01:41.240 --> 01:41.870 Of course. 01:44.250 --> 01:46.410 Have you gotten even prettier? 02:14.570 --> 02:18.530 Episode 25: Maomao and Maomao 02:22.030 --> 02:25.120 What is this huge pile, Granny? 02:25.120 --> 02:27.000 Maomao ordered it, apparently. 02:27.000 --> 02:27.910 Again? 02:29.420 --> 02:31.710 This'll be a good business. 02:31.710 --> 02:33.960 Just deliver it like you're told. 02:33.960 --> 02:34.920 Understood. 02:44.390 --> 02:45.760 They're beautiful. 02:46.270 --> 02:48.310 I'm thinking of keeping some in my room. 02:49.730 --> 02:51.190 Is everything going well? 02:51.190 --> 02:52.810 Y-Yes. 03:22.300 --> 03:26.640 After the garden party, Master Shishou did ask for more ladies-in-waiting for her. 03:26.640 --> 03:29.020 This seems like far too many, though... 03:29.020 --> 03:33.310 Yes. It's not a good look for the other ladies. 03:34.020 --> 03:37.200 Greetings, Concubine Loulan. 03:46.160 --> 03:48.120 Oh? Looking for something? 03:48.120 --> 03:49.540 Oh, no. 03:49.540 --> 03:51.290 Maomao is at the clinic. 04:01.010 --> 04:02.510 It really is spring. 04:14.850 --> 04:16.400 What are you doing? 04:16.690 --> 04:18.520 Why do you ask like that? 04:18.980 --> 04:20.990 I'm making scented oils. 04:20.990 --> 04:24.910 While cleaning up the clinic, I found a still. 04:24.910 --> 04:29.030 I'm using some of the blooms left over from the blue roses we grew the other day. 04:29.330 --> 04:30.910 The scent is really strong. 04:30.910 --> 04:33.620 It's still weaker than wild roses. 04:34.120 --> 04:35.370 What can I do for you? 04:37.170 --> 04:40.420 Anyone would grow concerned, given such a strong scent. 04:41.510 --> 04:45.260 Are you making it here because you can't do it at the Jade Pavilion? 04:45.260 --> 04:46.720 That too, but... 04:47.260 --> 04:50.930 Some scented oils can cause miscarriages. 04:50.930 --> 04:54.350 It shouldn't be an issue unless it's extremely concentrated, but... 04:54.350 --> 04:58.900 So, there's no need to restrict perfumes and things like that in the rear palace? 04:58.900 --> 05:00.690 Right. It shouldn't be a problem. 05:01.150 --> 05:04.110 The quack doctor is a nice guy, but can't keep his mouth shut. 05:04.110 --> 05:07.530 He shouldn't know about Concubine Gyokuyou's pregnancy yet. 05:07.530 --> 05:08.410 What's this? 05:09.950 --> 05:12.200 I'm distilling alcohol. 05:12.200 --> 05:15.660 By distilling repeatedly, I can create a very strong alcohol. 05:17.710 --> 05:19.000 You're going to drink this?! 05:19.000 --> 05:20.750 It's for disinfecting. 05:20.750 --> 05:22.760 I want the Jade Pavilion to be as clean as possible, 05:22.760 --> 05:25.340 since we have a small princess there. 05:25.340 --> 05:27.300 You can do that? 05:27.300 --> 05:33.180 You soak a cloth in this, and wipe surfaces, among other things. 05:33.470 --> 05:35.020 You're very knowledgeable. 05:35.020 --> 05:37.190 I heard that's what they do in the west. 05:37.190 --> 05:40.440 Oh, right. Your adoptive father is... 05:40.730 --> 05:42.690 We brought your package. 05:48.990 --> 05:50.490 What is this? 05:50.490 --> 05:52.700 Ah, the little lady— 05:54.200 --> 05:58.040 Master Jinshi, I will make some tea. Please have a seat. 05:58.040 --> 05:59.290 What's inside? 05:59.880 --> 06:03.250 This is a package from my family. It's nothing, really! 06:03.750 --> 06:06.090 Oh, from your family? 06:06.090 --> 06:07.380 What's wrong with this guy?! 06:07.380 --> 06:11.390 Th-There are... undergarments inside. 06:12.510 --> 06:14.430 Oh... I see. 06:15.310 --> 06:20.980 But what are these undergarments made of, if they require two men to carry? 06:25.190 --> 06:27.150 The problem with the rear palace is that 06:27.150 --> 06:30.660 the women are expected to be excessively innocent in matters of sex. 06:30.950 --> 06:34.660 Most of the ladies-in-waiting gathered here are virgins. 06:35.160 --> 06:37.330 What if the emperor finds a girl to his liking, 06:37.330 --> 06:40.670 only to have her fail to perform due to her ignorance? 06:41.080 --> 06:43.960 That's why I thought they need to be educated beforehand. 06:43.960 --> 06:46.800 So... you had these brought in? 06:47.550 --> 06:50.840 Books, like the ones from back then. You know, then. 06:52.590 --> 06:55.390 After all the work I did to get them delivered to the clinic, 06:55.390 --> 06:57.100 out of Lady Hongniang's sight... 06:57.680 --> 07:00.600 I used to order them for the emperor, who loves these, 07:00.600 --> 07:04.570 but I increased the order to get more business. 07:04.570 --> 07:06.320 Bad timing, though. 07:09.320 --> 07:10.610 These books... 07:10.990 --> 07:13.530 are very well made. 07:13.530 --> 07:15.490 The paper is of high quality. 07:15.490 --> 07:19.540 That's what he noticed? I thought maybe he was a closet pervert. 07:19.540 --> 07:22.710 These books are sometimes used as part of a new bride's package, 07:22.710 --> 07:26.630 and it's popular because the pictures are enough to enjoy, even if you can't read. 07:26.630 --> 07:27.750 A print. 07:27.750 --> 07:31.590 Not woodblock prints, but ones that use metal plates. 07:31.590 --> 07:32.930 That's impressive. 07:32.930 --> 07:37.640 Yes. Because it's so good, I wanted as many people to see it as possible. 07:38.140 --> 07:40.560 That's a separate issue. 07:44.940 --> 07:47.900 If you find this to your liking, perhaps you should keep one? 07:48.530 --> 07:51.030 N-No! That's definitely not it! 07:53.160 --> 07:55.910 I guess I can let you off the hook this one time. 07:55.910 --> 07:57.410 Really?! 07:57.740 --> 08:00.250 Tell me which shop sells these. 08:02.620 --> 08:05.790 No! I just want to know about their printing techniques! 08:07.420 --> 08:11.300 Yes, of course. The shop, got it. 08:14.260 --> 08:15.550 Xiaomao. 08:15.550 --> 08:16.350 What is it? 08:17.180 --> 08:20.600 Perhaps some of the more explicit ones need to be censored. 08:21.060 --> 08:25.020 But the emperor said the previous ones weren't exciting enough, so— 08:25.020 --> 08:26.230 No. 08:28.570 --> 08:33.320 Sigh... And after I asked Granny to do all that work to pick the best ones... 08:41.830 --> 08:48.340 Oh, what is it that I seek, beneath those beautiful flowers? 08:52.090 --> 08:55.130 Hey, what do you think is buried there? 08:55.930 --> 08:56.930 Huh. 08:57.390 --> 08:58.300 Manure? 08:59.560 --> 09:01.270 You ate too quickly. 09:01.270 --> 09:02.770 No, it's your fault! 09:02.770 --> 09:05.350 This novel is really popular, you know! 09:05.350 --> 09:07.560 Can you read, Xiaolan? 09:07.560 --> 09:12.190 Nope! But one of the girls who can is reading it out loud for us. 09:12.190 --> 09:14.700 I want to know the rest! 09:15.400 --> 09:19.620 If even the illiterate servant girls know the story, 09:19.620 --> 09:21.540 the book must truly be popular. 09:26.620 --> 09:28.080 I'm back. 09:28.630 --> 09:29.840 What is that? 09:29.840 --> 09:33.260 The emperor handed it out to all of the concubines. 09:33.260 --> 09:36.760 He said once they're done reading it, they should show the others, as well. 09:36.760 --> 09:38.430 Do you want to read it too, Maomao? 09:39.470 --> 09:44.850 Looks like it's the same as the one Xiaolan talked about. A popular novel. 09:44.850 --> 09:50.610 These are considered low class in high society. So I wonder why... 09:50.610 --> 09:53.110 Hmm? This stamp... 09:53.110 --> 09:55.740 It's from the place I told Master Jinshi about the other day. 09:56.110 --> 10:00.160 It might be a novel, but it's of a high quality, befitting a gift from the emperor. 10:00.160 --> 10:04.910 If he gave it out to all of the concubines, there must be at least one hundred copies. 10:04.910 --> 10:08.000 Master Jinshi must have asked the emperor to do it. 10:08.000 --> 10:12.000 Wow! What a page-turner! I can't stop! 10:08.460 --> 10:11.170 I should have charged a commission! 10:12.000 --> 10:15.710 But why? Novels are considered lowly. 10:15.710 --> 10:19.130 Why hand it out to concubines of noble birth... 10:22.720 --> 10:28.440 I knew it had to do with politics. He really was scheming something. 10:28.440 --> 10:30.520 Oh no, I finished it! 10:30.900 --> 10:33.110 I want to read the rest! 10:33.110 --> 10:37.820 Master Gaoshun said he'll hand out the next one when they're ready. 10:37.820 --> 10:39.200 Is something wrong? 10:40.780 --> 10:44.080 Well, we're the only ladies-in-waiting at the Jade Pavilion, right? 10:44.080 --> 10:50.170 It feels like a waste, having a gift from Lady Gyokuyou like this enjoyed by just us. 10:50.170 --> 10:54.590 But we can't hand it out to the girls outside the pavilion. It's too precious. 10:54.590 --> 10:56.510 What if they lost it? 10:56.960 --> 10:58.720 You're right. 11:00.760 --> 11:05.640 Instead of handing out the originals, you could create copies yourself. 11:06.600 --> 11:11.480 Maybe the pictures are too difficult, but Lady Ailan, your penmanship is excellent. 11:11.900 --> 11:14.440 It shouldn't be a problem for you to make copies. 11:14.440 --> 11:16.360 Y-You think so? 11:16.360 --> 11:19.110 Yikes, that sounds like a lot of work! 11:19.110 --> 11:21.780 Yinghua, don't say that! 11:21.780 --> 11:26.240 This is probably the correct interpretation of Master Jinshi's idea. 11:22.240 --> 11:23.700 Let's give it a try. 11:23.700 --> 11:25.370 Where should we start? 11:26.740 --> 11:29.000 If books became popular in the rear palace, 11:29.290 --> 11:32.120 many will want to try to learn to read, 11:32.120 --> 11:35.380 especially if the book is a popular novel. 11:36.250 --> 11:41.090 Back when I was Master Jinshi's servant, he did ask me... 11:41.510 --> 11:45.600 Apothecary, what do you think we can do to improve the literacy rate of the court ladies? 11:46.470 --> 11:50.180 Still, he chose a very roundabout way of doing it. 11:53.100 --> 11:54.600 Hey, Maomao! 11:54.600 --> 11:56.900 Please teach me how to read and write! 11:56.900 --> 11:57.980 Where'd that come from? 11:58.480 --> 12:03.780 The girl who read the novels out loud for us wore out her voice by reading too much. 12:03.780 --> 12:08.700 Instead, she made copies of the books for us, but I can't read. 12:08.700 --> 12:10.000 Then I could read them to you— 12:10.000 --> 12:11.200 No! 12:12.960 --> 12:17.960 That girl spent so much time making copies for me. I can't cheat like that. 12:20.840 --> 12:22.090 Good girl. 12:21.130 --> 12:23.880 Hey, what's this, all of a sudden?! 12:24.840 --> 12:28.510 This is your name. Try to write it yourself. 12:25.890 --> 12:29.390 Xiaolan 12:28.510 --> 12:29.390 Got it! 12:29.390 --> 12:31.890 Xiaolan 12:32.270 --> 12:35.980 I didn't know my name was so complicated. 12:35.980 --> 12:39.980 Writing helps you learn to read too, but do you want to just focus on reading? 12:39.980 --> 12:43.150 No, I might as well learn to write, too! 12:43.490 --> 12:47.120 Once I leave the rear palace, I have to work on my own. 12:47.120 --> 12:49.160 Being able to read and write helps, right? 12:52.120 --> 12:53.540 What is this?! 12:52.620 --> 12:56.210 Xiaolan is thinking about her future in her own way. 12:56.750 --> 12:59.130 Let's go a bit quickly, then. 12:59.130 --> 13:00.670 Yes, thank you! 13:01.340 --> 13:02.880 What does this say? 13:02.880 --> 13:04.300 Mushroom fungus. 13:04.300 --> 13:05.220 And this? 13:05.220 --> 13:11.470 Mushroom fungus 13:05.220 --> 13:11.470 Thornapple 13:05.220 --> 13:11.470 Kudzu root 13:05.630 --> 13:06.890 Thornapple. 13:07.510 --> 13:08.600 This? 13:08.600 --> 13:09.760 Kudzu root. 13:10.560 --> 13:14.940 Hey, are those commonly used words? 13:16.020 --> 13:17.810 We should start with greetings. 13:17.810 --> 13:18.980 Sounds good. 13:47.090 --> 13:50.100 Is Princess Lingli allowed to go on walks now? 13:50.100 --> 13:55.520 Yes. The pavilion has become a bit too small for her, so I asked. 13:56.140 --> 13:58.850 She really likes to run around all over the place. 13:58.850 --> 14:00.190 What do you think, Maomao? 14:00.810 --> 14:06.650 I agree. For the princess's health, it would be best for her to go outside more. 14:07.240 --> 14:10.410 Two eunuchs will follow her as guards. 14:10.410 --> 14:13.490 Could you and Hongniang accompany her? 14:13.790 --> 14:15.000 Understood. 14:15.410 --> 14:19.250 All of the emperor's previous children have passed away very young. 14:19.250 --> 14:21.880 This seems like a bit of an overreaction for a simple walk, 14:21.880 --> 14:23.590 but I guess it's understandable. 14:24.130 --> 14:27.010 Maomao, you know a lot about flowers and creatures. 14:27.010 --> 14:29.470 Can you teach Lingli while we're outside? 14:30.340 --> 14:34.810 Lady Gyokuyou, no! She'll teach the princess all sorts of nasty things. 14:35.220 --> 14:38.730 Oh? I think it's useful. 14:38.730 --> 14:41.690 Who knows where she'll get married off? 14:41.690 --> 14:47.070 The princess is still a baby, but in a decade or so, talks of marriage may arise. 14:47.860 --> 14:52.570 If she went to a foreign nation, she might not necessarily be welcome. 14:54.580 --> 14:58.830 Knowing about medicines and poisons can only help her. 14:58.830 --> 15:00.580 She really is a clever concubine. 15:07.670 --> 15:10.430 Reactions to seeing the princess are varied. 15:12.050 --> 15:15.310 They represent the differing views towards her. 15:15.970 --> 15:19.810 Perhaps soon, she'll learn what those eyes mean. 15:22.900 --> 15:24.810 That's a primrose. 15:31.240 --> 15:33.200 Oh, Princess! 15:35.410 --> 15:36.740 Princess! 15:38.830 --> 15:40.750 Princess! You mustn't! 15:40.750 --> 15:41.710 I'll go take a look. 15:47.590 --> 15:48.880 A kitten? 15:57.060 --> 15:58.470 Princess! 16:02.100 --> 16:03.940 I have to catch it? 16:03.940 --> 16:05.310 Oh, well. 16:13.950 --> 16:14.910 Found you! 16:20.830 --> 16:22.210 You want this? 16:28.500 --> 16:33.380 Oh, I thought you were trying to catch it. Was I wrong? 16:34.340 --> 16:36.010 Thank you. 16:36.010 --> 16:36.750 Here. 16:37.680 --> 16:41.390 It might be hungry. I'll leave it to you! 16:42.100 --> 16:42.980 See ya! 16:48.020 --> 16:49.820 Maomao, is that... 16:49.820 --> 16:51.650 Yes, a cat. 16:53.110 --> 16:57.490 It's dirty. The princess shouldn't touch it for now. 16:58.620 --> 17:00.240 R-Right... 17:04.000 --> 17:08.590 Let's keep it safe for the time being. I'll let management know. 17:08.590 --> 17:09.130 Yes. 17:09.500 --> 17:12.300 Oh, how rare. A kitten. 17:12.610 --> 17:13.840 I found it. 17:13.840 --> 17:16.340 How sad. It's trembling. 17:16.340 --> 17:20.060 I just boiled some water. Hold on a moment. 17:21.600 --> 17:23.850 This is strange, though. 17:24.680 --> 17:28.350 There are almost no pets in the rear palace. 17:28.350 --> 17:30.860 Keeping an animal requires a permit, 17:30.860 --> 17:33.570 and cats and dogs need to be castrated. 17:33.860 --> 17:36.650 Where was this kitten born? 17:37.740 --> 17:42.870 Wrap a bottle of hot water with cloth, and put it next to it. 17:42.870 --> 17:44.830 You seem to be familiar with this. 17:44.830 --> 17:47.120 I found a cat before, too. 17:47.120 --> 17:49.080 It was a very cute calico. 17:49.080 --> 17:50.040 I see. 17:53.130 --> 17:57.380 It's very skinny. Do we have any livestock milk? 17:57.380 --> 17:59.890 Sure, I'll go ask the kitchen. 17:59.890 --> 18:01.510 Also, a livestock intestine. 18:01.810 --> 18:03.470 I-Intestine?! 18:03.470 --> 18:06.310 I was thinking of using it as a replacement for its mother's teat. 18:06.310 --> 18:09.690 We had sausages a few times, perhaps there's some in the kitchen... 18:09.690 --> 18:11.820 Sure, I'll go ask. 18:14.530 --> 18:18.110 It would have been best to bathe it in warm water, 18:18.110 --> 18:20.740 but in its current state, it won't survive. 18:21.660 --> 18:25.500 Instead, I'll have to wipe off the dirt with a cloth, 18:26.000 --> 18:28.750 and kill any fleas with oil. 18:30.380 --> 18:33.210 Little lady, I found some goat milk! 18:33.550 --> 18:34.920 And some intestine, too. 18:34.920 --> 18:36.550 Thank you. 18:43.510 --> 18:46.520 So cute. So cute! 18:48.060 --> 18:51.350 That night, the emperor visited the Jade Pavilion. 18:52.860 --> 18:55.070 We've decided to keep the kitten. 18:56.280 --> 18:58.570 Do continue to take care of it. 18:59.150 --> 19:01.910 The emperor can be a doting parent, too. 19:01.910 --> 19:06.410 Maomao, taking care of a kitten. It suits your name, too. 19:09.790 --> 19:12.380 When the kitten grew healthier, 19:12.380 --> 19:15.550 I washed it with a detergent made of crushed soap beans. 19:15.550 --> 19:17.760 Wow, the water went grey. 19:18.300 --> 19:21.970 I fed it milk for a while, but as it improved, 19:21.970 --> 19:24.760 it started to be able to eat shredded chicken. 19:24.760 --> 19:29.520 When we put down a box filled with sand, it relieved itself on its own. 19:33.650 --> 19:36.400 We can't have you scratching the princess. 19:36.400 --> 19:38.150 How goes the child-raising? 19:40.030 --> 19:43.240 I think she's ready to be presented to the princess. 19:43.240 --> 19:44.370 Good. 19:45.490 --> 19:49.790 Small fish? They might be a bit tough as-is. Shall I boil them? 19:49.790 --> 19:51.660 O-Of course. 19:52.040 --> 19:53.210 She's female. 19:53.210 --> 19:56.170 Yes. I'm glad we don't have to castrate— 19:56.960 --> 19:58.340 My apologies. 19:58.340 --> 20:01.010 No, don't worry about it. 20:01.010 --> 20:03.010 Let me get you a snack as an apology... 20:05.050 --> 20:07.390 Can't put these out, I guess. 20:10.680 --> 20:12.190 You want to try? 20:12.190 --> 20:14.480 I don't actually like cats. 20:14.480 --> 20:15.860 With your name? 20:15.860 --> 20:17.270 I get that a lot. 20:17.270 --> 20:20.030 Master Jinshi, you seem to like cats. 20:22.030 --> 20:24.240 Not as much as those two. 20:24.740 --> 20:27.240 I don't really understand the appeal. 20:27.240 --> 20:31.000 I agree. However, according to cat lovers, 20:31.000 --> 20:34.460 the fact that you can't tell what they're thinking is part of the appeal. 20:34.460 --> 20:35.210 Oh. 20:35.500 --> 20:38.710 They're fun to watch. You can't keep your eyes off of them. 20:38.710 --> 20:40.960 After a while, you start to want to touch them. 20:40.960 --> 20:41.710 Hmm. 20:42.170 --> 20:44.180 They usually behave coldly, 20:44.180 --> 20:48.680 but suddenly become friendly when you feed them, which is annoying. 20:45.050 --> 20:46.050 Ox bezoar 20:48.680 --> 20:49.970 R-Right... 20:50.430 --> 20:54.270 At that point, they say you just kind of give up. 20:55.560 --> 21:00.900 Poking at their paws, kissing them... it all seems very unsanitary. 21:06.860 --> 21:09.080 What's wrong, Master Jinshi? 21:12.700 --> 21:14.790 I'm starting to see it, too. 21:18.080 --> 21:19.250 Is that so? 21:19.840 --> 21:23.840 They never figured out where the kitten came from, 21:23.840 --> 21:28.340 so they assumed she must have snuck in with a luggage cart. 21:29.050 --> 21:30.850 Later, the kitten... 21:32.970 --> 21:38.230 was bestowed the title of "Admonisher of Thieves" by the emperor. 21:38.730 --> 21:43.990 In other words, she was tasked with chasing down rats threatening the clinic's reserves. 21:45.860 --> 21:47.280 But... 21:47.280 --> 21:50.370 Maomao 21:47.610 --> 21:52.660 I'll never understand why they decided to name her Maomao. 21:55.500 --> 21:58.120 Let's get this cleaned up fast. 21:58.120 --> 22:00.880 Yes. The caravan is coming soon. 22:02.340 --> 22:03.760 Caravan...? 23:45.020 --> 23:59.950 Next Time 23:55.740 --> 23:58.080 Next time: "Caravan." 23:56.030 --> 23:59.950 Episode 26: Caravan