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The Apothecary Diaries

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.

Here it is.

Don't you wear a hair stick?

Wear that, then.

A promise is a promise, I guess.

Look, Luomen.

This one is so smart, she won't eat the head, tail, or guts of the fish.

Episode 40: Festering Resentment

Personally, I like the bitter taste.

He did teach me not to waste food,

but who would've thought he'd eat leftovers from a cat...

Learn ten things from one tip.

My dad is the best doctor in this country, I think.

But still, he lives in poverty in the pleasure district.

Why? Because he feels no greed whatsoever.

What are you making, little lady?

Mugwort, for Lady Gyokuyou's moxibustion.

Maomao, ask for Guen's permission before using things.

Yes.

Are you going to write all day today, Dad?

Yes. Nobody seems to need my services today.

Dad was assigned to the doctor's office, not directly to the Jade Pavilion.

It was probably Master Jinshi's plan.

At least one more person is carrying the emperor's child in the rear palace.

Lady Lihua.

I hope her next child grows up healthy.

For that, she first has to give birth safely.

If Dad can look after both of them, I'll be relieved.

Oh, did you hear about how the Crystal Pavilion got a batch of new ladies-in-waiting?

You know, after the last head lady-in-waiting left?

Yeah...

I heard many of them are older, so the atmosphere there got a lot calmer.

It's good to have many experienced ladies-in-waiting.

Many of the workers in the rear palace are young.

Elderly women are extremely rare.

The rear palace is for birthing and raising

the emperor's children.

It's not functioning properly right now.

Given how many children the emperor has right now, that needs to be improved.

I'm sure my dad realizes this problem by now, but...

Hmm. That should do.

What is this, Dad?

I wrote down the things I find concerning in the rear palace right now.

Let's see.

Wow, Luomen, your handwriting is very pretty.

That's what you notice?

But the tone is kind of childish.

Perhaps you need to sound more authoritative?

That's fine.

There are many here who can still only read simple characters and phrases.

I see. He wants servant girls and workers to read this.

What do you think? Did I miss anything?

I think you've covered most of it, but...

Guen, does your family sell paper about this size?

A scrap like that would get melted down to make more new paper.

In that case, would it be possible to get more at a low price?

Yes, I think so.

Maomao, they built a school here recently, right?

Yes.

In that case, can you go and ask if they can use this

as an example to practice writing with?

Ah. You want to get the students to help mass-produce the notice.

I'll go ask today.

Thank you.

He thinks like a merchant, not putting manpower or materials to waste.

Now why can't he use that intellect to improve his own life?

Well, my mugwort is ready, so I'll go now.

Oh, and I'm taking some disinfecting alcohol for the Jade Pavilion.

Sure.

Also, something for fatigue...

Lady Gyokuyou said she gets tired easily recently.

Stop, you'll tear it.

What's wrong, Maomao? You're making such a fuss.

Maybe it's this.

You can't have it.

So, what to do next...

Should I go to the school first?

Going through Master Jinshi would probably take time.

I'm carrying it with me, but the last time I put it on...

Hey! Isn't that the hair stick you got from Master Jinshi at the garden party?!

Why did you decide to wear it all of a sudden?!

Maybe later.

This is Luomen's handwriting.

You can tell?

Back in the day, we all used to say copying his handwriting

made it easier to pass the civil service exams, so we practiced it.

He had the talent to become a government official,

but instead, he became a doctor, because he felt sorry for the sick, homeless children.

He's actually back in the rear palace right now.

Oh, that's news to me.

Isn't Xiaolan here today?

She's a bit preoccupied lately because of her term expiring,

and because of that young eunuch.

A young eunuch, right...

I know excitement is rare around here, but is that really worth all the fuss?

What do you mean?

Well, they said having the young eunuchs on the south side

made the court ladies stop concentrating on work.

So, they sent a few of the eunuchs to the north side.

I heard the court ladies at the clinic appreciate the male help.

The clinic...

I guess Lady Shenlü would have a lot of work for the young eunuchs.

So, what did you need today?

Oh, right.

My adoptive father wanted you to use this text he wrote

as an example for students to practice writing with.

He will provide the paper.

Ha, ha. He wants to make copies to put them up everywhere.

Yes.

He used to write similar things in the past.

He made them all by himself back then, so I ended up helping.

The two of us, writing and writing, to post these all over the rear palace...

I guess, with age, he learned how to cleverly put other people to work.

So, you posted paper notices in the past, too?

Yes, it was back when Luomen was a doctor here,

so it was more than 20 years ago.

It was all over the rear palace.

"Don't use whitening powder with lead in it,

avoid strong scents, don't pick plants in the rear palace without permission..."

Yes, the content is mostly the same.

Same as this...? What is this uneasy feeling?

I'll bring paper later!

Yes.

Dad must have posted the warnings out of pure goodwill.

But it helps those with evil intent learn about harmful substances.

Most of the workforce at the rear palace is replaced every two years.

When the late emperor passed away, the concubines were replaced, too.

Who would know about the warnings posted the last time? It would be...

Excuse me.

Oh.

You're from the Jade Pavilion.

Lady Shenlü.

Are you feeling unwell?

Oh, no...

Should I bring it up? But how...

Oh!

Um, this is alcohol. It's distilled and very strong,

so it should be a good disinfectant.

Are you sure we can have this?

Yes, I made a lot.

Thank you. Let me make some tea.

By the way, the people at this clinic seem very skilled.

What do you mean?

The term length of rear palace workers is usually two years,

but the workers here seem to have been here for longer.

We're all just old.

Assuming they had joined in their teens or twenties...

There must be a reason why they've stayed at the rear palace for over twenty years.

We used to be young.

I joined the rear palace at ten years old.

The other court ladies joined at a similar age.

In the current rear palace, they don't hire girls at such a young age.

But, back in the late emperor's era...

The late emperor chose the youngest girls, deflowering them one after the other.

The girls spent their days in the rear palace, barred from ever leaving.

Once the emperor lays his hands on you,

you can't leave the rear palace, even if you're just a court lady.

There's nobody out there waiting to welcome us back.

Not before, not ever.

I see now.

The rear palace. The emperor.

And the concubines who receive the emperor's love.

This is where the resentment toward them is festering.

Before, Shenlü was worried about the servant who fell ill at the Crystal Pavilion,

and asked me to check up on her.

I just thought she was a considerate and observant court lady.

But...

Perhaps it's Shenlü who taught Shin, the head lady-in-waiting at the Crystal Pavilion,

how to make abortifacients.

What if she delivered the message indirectly, through that sick servant girl...

The coughing won't stop.

Let me see.

Um, is it contagious?

Is something wrong?

I don't want Lady Lihua to get it.

There's a possibility that she's pregnant.

I see.

Give this to Lady Shin, the head lady-in-waiting.

What is it?

Things that are harmful to pregnant women.

Some can even induce abortions if combined.

This information will be useful for Lady Lihua.

Sharing information on things to avoid can also lead

to those with bad intentions learning about what is poisonous.

If a caravan arrived at the right time to provide those things,

of course they would go for it.

Why did they sell it?

Perhaps the court ladies at the clinic told the merchants which scents they wanted.

I don't know if she was involved in all of the incidents so far.

Even if it never became full-on murderous intent,

resentment must have festered gradually, over a long time, within the rear palace.

Should I question her...?

Is something wrong?

It's nothing.

I see. Alright, then.

No, I shouldn't.

There's no proof, not even a testimony.

I don't want to make vague accusations.

This is the only place where a sick worker can get reliable treatment.

I don't want this place to go away.

I guess the most I can do is to nip the bud of resentment

festering in the clinic before it spreads elsewhere.

Um...

I'm sorry to take up your time.

If you want to read any of the books here, you can take them.

Just make sure to bring them back.

There's a lot of them.

Sometimes people add books to that shelf.

They just have to return them.

This is a very impressive book on insects.

Yes, that was one that was added without me noticing.

About a month ago, I think.

This is...

A month ago, which was around when the party with the special envoys took place.

Come to think of it...

This place is really great!

There's so many insects here I've only ever seen in books!

This book... Did Shisui bring it?

But how could a servant girl own such an expensive book?

When Shisui was drawing pictures of insects, she used a notebook made of paper.

She can read and write, too. Why is she a servant girl?

Shenlü, you need to be careful with that one.

A voice uncharacteristically high for a man, but low for a woman.

Shorter than an average man,

but taller than an average woman.

Someone beautiful, who attracts the attention of the court ladies...

Suirei...

Shenlü, she figured out what you did from your conversation earlier.

You're a smart one, as always.

Like the time you prevented me from becoming a corpse.

Should I scream? Or should I throw the bottle of alcohol and run?

Don't try anything. I'll stab you if you move.

If you killed me here, they'd find you right away.

I want to end this peacefully, if possible.

Is that an aftereffect of the resurrection medicine?

After the attempted assassination at the ceremony,

you pretended to drink poison and die.

Being in that near-death state for a while must have taken a toll on you.

So what? Do you want to know what my goal is?

You think I'll listen?

You will!

Shisui!

I knew it. That book was Shisui's.

Sorry, Maomao...

Do you care if this girl lives or dies?

What do you want?

I want you to come with me, out of the rear palace.

Leave the rear palace? That's...

Possible. And I know you'll follow me.

Don't you want to know how to make the resurrection medicine?

Unbelievable.

She really must not be underestimated.

There are two beasts in the palace, in the east and west.

In the military headquarters to the east, a beast.

To the west side, represented by bureaucracy, another.

In other words, the grand commandant...

Lakan, a high-ranking official, the fox in the east.

And the political heavyweight from the late emperor's era,

the ruler of Shihoku-shu, Shishou, the tanuki of the west.

How may we be of service?

Oh, it's just that the imperial younger brother

has joined the court council for the first time in a month.

I was hoping to have some tea afterward.

I also thought perhaps this would be a good opportunity to invite Master Shishou.

Oh, me too?

I'm afraid I don't have any interesting stories to tell.

He will join you.

In that case, let's go to the center courtyard.

Autumn is quite visibly here.

I brought silver cups. You won't need a taster.

He says it is delicious.

Master Lakan, I thought you had something to discuss.

Remember the attempted assassination

of the imperial younger brother the other day in Shihoku-shu?

Our investigation turned up something interesting.

Is this... schematics for a feifa?!

Do you know what this is, Master Shishou?

What is this?

This is the weapon that the assassins were carrying. Correct?

Excuse me, please continue.

We took it apart and drew up the schematics.

It seems to be the latest model developed in the west.

Here, at the tip of the hammer, instead of a fuse, there's a piece of flint.

It misfires less frequently, and the design is simpler than expected.

That's quite impressive.

Yes. If it could be mass-produced, it would change the shape of warfare.

It would allow for more tightly-packed formations, and make travel easier.

Such an item being carried by scoundrels

who seek to assassinate the imperial younger brother...

I wonder how they got their hands on this.

Who knows?

That's for you to find out, isn't it?

True, but we're in a bit of a bind.

The interrogator in charge got a little overzealous,

and the suspect can no longer speak.

An attempted assassin of the imperial younger brother should be shown no mercy,

but still, botching the interrogation process is a huge loss.

So I was wondering, Master Shishou, if you've heard anything about this.

If I had, I would have reported it already.

Is that so? That's unfortunate.

Well, let's move on to the main topic.

This is a record of the game of Go I played with my wife yesterday!

Y-Your wife?

Oh yes, I did hear that you got married, Master Lakan.

Yes!

They say that it was a whole week of festivities.

Ah, so you've heard!

Yes, she's quite a clever woman, my wife.

Look at these moves, sharp like a honed blade!

The shivers I felt when she played them!

Like this move! I somehow dodge it, but she follows with this!

How long is this going to go on?

Yes, it's quite exhilarating, I must say...

My apologies, but I have work to do, so I'll excuse myself.

Thank you for the drinks.

My, that's unfortunate.

I'll be sure to send you a copy of the game record,

along with a book detailing the scene.

Oh, you don't have to...

Please, no need to be modest. Oh, how about some grape juice, as well?

Served in a glass cup, it really brings out the red.

It is quite beautiful, yes.

Isn't it?

I think you and I will get along quite nicely.

I'd love to tell you about my wife.

Some other time. Excuse me...

This drink has quite the unique color, doesn't it?

There are some grapes in the world that are green.

That's green, not red, no matter how I look at it.

Why didn't Master Shishou react when he said "red?"

Just like my uncle said.

May I fix my hair?

Yes. I'll keep watch to make sure nobody comes in.

I can finally take off my mask.

These platform shoes are quite tiring.

I apologize for making you do this.

Don't worry. Pretending to be the crown prince

isn't something you get to experience often. I enjoyed it.

She looks like a handsome bureaucrat.

Who would guess that this is Lady Ah-Duo, the former high concubine?

The fox was such a weirdo, it made the tanuki look normal.

There aren't many people who can match the strategist.

He seems quite indulgent toward his wife.

I hear he is that way toward his daughter as well.

Who could've guessed she was his daughter?

And that daughter is why Master Jinshi the eunuch is busy, correct?

To think she'd go missing...

Next Time

Episode 41: The Fox Village

Next time: "The Fox Village."