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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.

Lady Loulan.

Apparently, the resurrection potion was an experiment

done during the development of the immortality potion.

Suirei actually came back to life using it.

The previous apothecary really was good.

But what Shenmei wants is something

that would make her ten years younger with a sip from a cup.

You guys have it tough, too.

That medicine is impossible. I know that, but...

I, too, have pride in my work as an apothecary!

The days pass by uneventfully...

Wait up!

Young sir! You mustn't go that way! I've said this so many times!

Who cares?

He's getting scolded again.

He's just going to get dragged home again, so why bother?

Still, this smell...

Is there a workshop below this?

Like the one at the village?

I hope it doesn't explode...

What's this?

A wire?

"Run, I'll distract the guard."

Run? Run where, exactly?

Lemme go!

Please, young sir!

Did you put him up to this?!

Distract the guard, huh?

Episode 45: Taibon

What were you thinking?

I dunno what you mean.

Did you instruct him to do this?

I don't know what you mean.

I guess he tried to save me.

Even if it was a kid's silly plan, it would be really bad if he got found out.

I was just playing, that's all!

Also, I was checking that the guard wasn't slacking off.

Huh?!

Is that true?

Yes.

Quit acting suspiciously from now on.

Got it!

Wait, I really saw—

Don't make a big deal out of this. You know what I mean, don't you?

Yeah, I get it...

I'm glad Suirei was around. Now it's all settled—

Oh?

What's all this ruckus about?

Oh, Mother!

Mother...?

It's not a big deal.

Is that so? I do find myself wondering why the apothecary is outside the room.

Kyou-u was playing outside the apothecary's room, and interfering with the guard.

I was just asking what was going on—

Oh, my! So, were you being naughty?

That's no good. I'll have to punish you, now.

Maybe a few good whacks to your rear would do the trick?

Lady Shenmei, that's—

What?

Kyou-u is still a child.

Besides, he didn't do anything to warrant...

I see.

So, someone made a big deal out of nothing, is that it?

No! Never!

But is that not the only logical conclusion?

Perhaps a stay in the water chamber would teach you a lesson.

Please, no!

It's so unreasonable.

She doesn't need a reason.

She just wants others to suffer. She enjoys it, even.

This doesn't concern me.

I should just let Kyou-u and the guard get whatever's coming to them.

But...

It pisses me off.

Oh, well. I suppose I'll have to punish you both, then.

Crazy old hag.

Huh?

Insolent little girl!

Yeah, I'm an idiot for sure.

I asked him to do it.

Huh?

I asked the boy to help me escape this stronghold.

Huh?

You!

This apothecary is worthless.

Let's have her reflect on her actions.

Throw her in the water chamber!

Water, in this cold, huh?

I really should have kept my mouth shut.

We'll need to search for another apothecary again.

Oh, Suirei? Did I just hear something? I'm sure it was nothing.

Lady Shenmei—

Don't move without permission.

My apologies.

But—

It seems even the most noble blood is soiled when a drop of filth is introduced.

Perhaps Suirei feels responsible, in her own way.

I didn't want to bring you all the way out here.

We've got another idiot, right here.

Mother, I want to use that thing.

That thing?

Ah. You mean the taibon.

Taibon? What's that? I think I've heard the name before.

What a splendid idea.

The last time we utilized it, it worked wonders.

What do they mean?

Take the apothecary there.

Here.

What is this room?

Don't hate me for this.

I owe you for saving me, but I'm under Lady Shenmei's orders.

Taibon.

Right, I remember.

It's a capital punishment created by a mad king from ancient times.

Trap a prisoner in a pit,

then toss in a bunch of...

No wonder Suirei is so afraid of snakes.

Oh, how adorable!

Why me?

Huh? What is this smell?

It smells... savory? Tasty?

Hmm?

What are you doing?

Do you have any salt on you?

Of course not!

Wait, is that...

Snake.

Ugh. Let's just pretend it's fish.

But still, how...

I used my hair stick to cut it up and cooked it over the torch.

How are you so calm?

The snakes and insects were all slow, since it's right before their hibernation.

Just in case, I took out the venomous ones first,

and used the herbs I had on me to make insect-repellent ash.

What was the point in me coming here?

So, why are you here?

Suirei and the brat asked me to check on you.

They wanted me to help you.

The brat even gave me a jade ornament.

We got off free thanks to you, anyway.

Those two...

I'm so done with this place.

There was a smoke signal outside.

They say it means the punitive force is coming from the city.

The whole stronghold's in a frenzy.

Hmm, this smell...

Which is how I was able to get in here unnoticed.

I'm taking off now.

If you're going to run too, don't use the staircase on the other side.

I hear they're making gunpowder in the basement.

Gunpowder?

There's a ton of people there, too. If there's an explosion, you'd get caught up in—

Thank you. The staircase on the other side, right?

Hey, I warned you!

That must be where the smell is coming from.

It does look like they're making gunpowder, but...

This smoke will poison all of them.

Besides, using fire near gunpowder...

Oh, no!

Is that...

You're all to leave this place immediately!

My lady, why...

The army is coming to attack us soon.

This stronghold will become a battlefield, and will fall.

Run, while you still can!

Silver!

M-My lady?

You, too. Hurry.

Good luck getting away!

Run!

Is she serious?!

This is bad!

Loulan...

Loulan!

Huh?! Maomao, why are you here?

I could ask you the same.

Are you hurt at all?

I figured you'd be okay in the taibon.

I knew it.

Yes, it was delicious.

That's really crazy, you know.

That's rich, coming from someone who willingly eats insects.

Let's get out of here.

The army's coming. We better hurry.

I'm not going.

I still have things to do.

Are you coming with me? Now's the best time to run, you know.

I do realize I'm being an idiot.

If Mother finds out, things will get pretty scary.

A whipping would be the least of it.

I thought she cared for you, Loulan.

Mother barely remembers my face.

I was barely old enough to know anything when they first started putting makeup on me.

"Loulan" is just my mother's doll.

A pretty, obedient doll.

So...

Dear sister!

You're here again?

Let me help! I'll work with you!

Why are you slacking off?

Mother—

Bring me my tea already!

Mother couldn't recognize me in the servant girl's outfit,

and beat me with her fan.

If I'm dressed as a servant, a servant is what I am.

Yet you still went to go see Suirei.

I wanted to be on good terms with her.

Mother always bullied her.

I'd bet my sister's mother was also bullied by my mother, and it killed her.

When Father brought my sister into the family,

Mother went berserk, whipping her hair around everywhere.

"Both mother and daughter, daring to insult me!?"

"Whore! Who knows what she'll do?!"

I thought I was in hell.

Mother and daughter...

When she was returned later as a gift,

my mother and I were already with my father.

It seems even the most noble blood is soiled when a drop of filth is introduced.

Wait, is Suirei...?!

Have you heard the rumor of the late emperor's first victim?

The court lady who gave birth to the emperor's daughter,

only to be separated from her?

The one that passed away last year?

Yes. That woman was my sister's grandmother.

Her name was Taihou.

She was my mother's lady-in-waiting when she was in the rear palace.

I knew it.

The doctor, Taihou, and her daughter were thrown out of the rear palace.

That daughter is my sister's mother.

Suirei has imperial blood in her...?

I heard she loved ghost stories.

I almost suffocated because of that once.

Perhaps that was that grandmother's doing.

I am my mother's daughter, after all.

I'm sure she hated me quite a bit.

Enough to want to kill me as a ghost.

Who knows if ghosts even exist?

Typical Maomao.

My mother married my father to give birth to "Loulan".

Purely for her own revenge.

Father has western blood as part of his lineage.

The same lineage as the Mother Royal.

That's why Loulan's eyesight is also...

"You can be the new Mother Royal," Mother always used to say.

Hey...

Loulan? Shisui?

I don't know which one to call her.

But...

But.

Shisui.

What is it?

When the abortion medicine was circulating in the rear palace, did you have some too?

To use on yourself?

When you told that ghost story, of the cricket wife eating her husband...

Were you talking about yourself?

Comparing yourself to an insect, to give birth in the cage that is the rear palace,

to later devour the emperor?

But Shisui didn't want that to happen.

The lantern plant is...

I know.

You really are sharp, Maomao.

I'm glad I brought you here.

Wow, what a messy sleeper—

They aren't breathing.

What do you—

You made them drink poison?!

It was medicine.

After everything we did, we'd all get killed, including the women and children.

You're well aware of that too, right?

I mixed it in with some sweet juice.

After reading a picture scroll together...

Some kids wanted to sleep with their mothers.

But I couldn't let them.

Their mothers are all very close to my mother.

Kyou-u arrived late because he was trying to save you, I guess.

Maybe he knew.

He bit his lip, but...

He drank it in one gulp.

Why did you bring me here?

Next Time

Next time: "Royal Guard."

Episode 46: Royal Guard