WEBVTT 00:13.740 --> 00:19.450 The Apothecary Diaries 01:31.480 --> 01:34.490 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. 01:40.030 --> 01:43.990 Episode 32: The Empress Dowager 01:43.390 --> 01:45.450 Starting today, this will be your room. 01:46.180 --> 01:47.960 A storage shed... 01:48.400 --> 01:50.920 You really want me to use this place? 01:50.920 --> 01:53.300 Yes. Think about what you did. 01:56.310 --> 01:59.070 Lady Yinghua, are you all right? 02:01.720 --> 02:06.810 How could I be?! I can't believe you collect those things! 02:07.160 --> 02:09.680 One of these days, Lady Hongniang will kick you out of your room, 02:09.680 --> 02:11.560 and transfer you to a storage shed! 02:13.370 --> 02:14.730 That sounds good. 02:15.130 --> 02:15.730 Huh? 02:16.130 --> 02:18.990 The storage shed is bigger than my current room, 02:18.990 --> 02:21.210 and I could make noise at night... 02:21.210 --> 02:22.430 Maomao? 02:22.430 --> 02:23.990 Yeah, it's a good idea. 02:24.340 --> 02:26.580 In that case, let's get going. 02:26.580 --> 02:28.990 I have to go back and ask Lady Hongniang. 02:28.990 --> 02:32.410 What? Wait! Wait! 02:39.720 --> 02:40.800 What in the... 02:43.690 --> 02:45.630 Think about what you've done! 02:45.630 --> 02:47.220 Lady Hongniang... 02:47.220 --> 02:49.310 Thank you so much! 02:49.710 --> 02:51.100 This is where I'll hang herbs! 02:51.100 --> 02:52.810 This is where I'll make medicine! 02:52.810 --> 02:55.230 That goes here! This goes there! 02:56.550 --> 02:59.860 I told you so! It's pointless! 03:00.410 --> 03:03.620 The storage shed? Unbelievable! 03:04.180 --> 03:09.250 You told on her to Lady Hongniang? Didn't you go a bit too far, Yinghua? 03:09.720 --> 03:14.680 It wasn't me! Maomao asked Lady Hongniang herself! 03:14.680 --> 03:16.340 Right, Maomao? 03:16.340 --> 03:19.010 Yes. It works out for me in several ways. 03:19.010 --> 03:20.390 Huh? 03:21.560 --> 03:23.740 At any rate, Maomao... 03:23.740 --> 03:26.180 Stop collecting insects, okay? 03:26.440 --> 03:30.730 Insects? What I'm collecting are lizard tails. 03:31.090 --> 03:34.730 Besides, I stopped gathering them after you collapsed. 03:35.640 --> 03:36.960 Really? 03:36.960 --> 03:39.160 But there's a rumor going around 03:39.160 --> 03:42.200 that a weird court lady is catching bugs while laughing to herself. 03:42.480 --> 03:44.740 I don't do that. 03:44.740 --> 03:47.370 There was that one time I was collecting moths as part of a job, 03:47.370 --> 03:49.530 but laughing while chasing insects... 03:54.890 --> 03:57.170 This is a serious issue. 03:57.880 --> 04:01.170 Huh? Hfff I hmmg Hinmhi mmghi? 04:01.660 --> 04:04.790 Yeah, Shisui. Have you seen her recently? 04:05.570 --> 04:10.170 Shisui, huh? She can be a real phantom... 04:13.710 --> 04:17.400 Hey, does anyone know where Shisui is? 04:17.780 --> 04:21.440 Shisui? I might have seen her, but I might have not... 04:21.800 --> 04:24.820 Huh? Where was she? Tell me, please! 04:25.090 --> 04:28.280 Well... Um... 04:28.870 --> 04:32.960 Oh, I bet they're being cautious because I serve a concubine directly. 04:34.200 --> 04:39.550 Xiaolan is actually the rare one for talking to anyone openly. 04:40.110 --> 04:42.300 Do I have anything on me to use as a gift? 04:43.260 --> 04:44.300 Oh, here we go. 04:44.830 --> 04:49.600 Depending on the information, I could give you this... 04:50.200 --> 04:50.850 Use this. 04:51.380 --> 04:52.520 You're bleeding. 04:56.060 --> 04:57.810 Th-This scent... 04:57.810 --> 05:00.400 Could it be his...?! 05:00.940 --> 05:02.900 I'll leave that up to your imagination. 05:03.770 --> 05:06.530 So, is there anything you can tell me? 05:10.500 --> 05:15.570 They said she's usually out in the thicket on the north side, but... 05:15.570 --> 05:18.250 I think this was where I ran into her the last time, too. 05:18.250 --> 05:20.590 Is this her favorite spot? 05:26.280 --> 05:29.020 I should have brought a mosquito repellent. 05:30.520 --> 05:31.890 White blossom... 05:32.420 --> 05:34.430 So, this is where they grow. 05:36.310 --> 05:41.690 When I was little, I used to collect white blossom seeds with the courtesans. 05:42.250 --> 05:45.190 Not for using the powder inside for make-up, 05:45.690 --> 05:47.770 but to make an abortion drug. 05:50.410 --> 05:53.240 Shin didn't wear any perfume at first. 05:54.090 --> 05:57.560 Since she was trying to take Concubine Lihua's place, 05:57.560 --> 06:01.340 it wouldn't be strange for Shin to avoid perfume, which could lead to miscarriages. 06:01.780 --> 06:06.170 Still, Shin risked wearing perfume so she could secretly make abortion drugs. 06:06.170 --> 06:07.800 That's probably because... 06:08.470 --> 06:13.510 Lady Gyokuyou isn't the only one receiving the love of the emperor. 06:13.510 --> 06:16.900 It's possible that Lady Lihua is pregnant as well. 06:18.330 --> 06:22.310 But that's not the only mystery I noted from that incident. 06:22.830 --> 06:27.060 The abortion drug made by courtesans uses, in addition to the white blossom, 06:27.060 --> 06:32.200 other ingredients like lantern plant, peony, balsam, and mercury. 06:32.750 --> 06:37.040 Aside from mercury, the other ingredients can be found in the rear palace. 06:37.510 --> 06:41.390 Even though she could have gotten them here, 06:41.390 --> 06:44.100 Shin got her abortion drug ingredients through the caravan. 06:44.100 --> 06:44.840 In other words, 06:45.460 --> 06:50.590 Shin had no knowledge of medicine, and someone taught her how to make poison. 06:50.970 --> 06:54.720 And that someone is probably still here, in the rear palace... 06:59.710 --> 07:01.560 Found you! 07:02.020 --> 07:05.080 Hold it right there, you! Hold it! 07:05.080 --> 07:08.860 This is who they confused me for? How rude. 07:09.210 --> 07:10.990 Got you! 07:20.250 --> 07:21.000 Insect! 07:22.640 --> 07:23.300 Oh... 07:23.980 --> 07:27.880 Shisui, it'd be great if you could let go... 07:32.260 --> 07:34.290 Sorry about that, Maomao. 07:34.290 --> 07:35.600 It's fine. 07:35.940 --> 07:38.330 Were those the insects you were hunting? 07:38.850 --> 07:39.480 Yes! 07:39.940 --> 07:41.960 She must really love bugs. 07:50.030 --> 07:53.400 This insect is native to the island nation in the east! 07:53.400 --> 07:55.320 They make noise by rubbing their wings together! 07:55.320 --> 07:58.410 It was probably part of some trade goods, but escaped! 07:58.410 --> 08:01.920 I think this is the only place you can find them, like the moths from the other day! 08:01.920 --> 08:05.370 They do have a similar color as cockroaches, but they're different, don't worry! 08:05.370 --> 08:07.360 And also! And also! And also! 08:07.360 --> 08:09.090 I shouldn't have asked. 08:13.750 --> 08:15.290 What's that sound? 08:24.580 --> 08:27.400 Is that... the empress dowager? 08:27.880 --> 08:30.420 Last I saw her was at the garden party last year. 08:30.420 --> 08:31.860 She really does look young. 08:32.680 --> 08:35.360 Hard to believe she's the emperor's mother... 08:36.780 --> 08:38.340 Why are you hiding? 08:38.340 --> 08:40.110 Why are you? 08:40.110 --> 08:42.660 Well, it's kind of reflexive. 08:43.230 --> 08:45.510 I wonder if she's going to the clinic? 08:45.510 --> 08:46.420 Clinic? 08:46.700 --> 08:50.980 Yeah, it's an unofficial clinic run by court ladies. 08:50.980 --> 08:52.420 I know about that. 08:52.420 --> 08:55.620 Apparently, the empress dowager was the one who founded it. 08:55.620 --> 08:56.840 The empress dowager? 08:57.350 --> 09:00.250 This was back when the empress had a lot of power, 09:00.250 --> 09:02.470 so the empress dowager couldn't make it official. 09:02.760 --> 09:04.560 I see. 09:05.390 --> 09:09.070 The empress dowager is really kind. 09:11.710 --> 09:18.330 Also, they say she was behind the banning of slaves and eunuchs. 09:18.330 --> 09:19.450 I see. 09:20.200 --> 09:24.810 From a humanitarian perspective, banning slaves was probably a good idea. 09:24.810 --> 09:28.890 But, aside from slaves who are treated like animals, 09:28.890 --> 09:32.910 there are some, like courtesans, who use their bodies as collateral to borrow money. 09:32.910 --> 09:35.590 This is legal, and considered to be similar to employment. 09:36.070 --> 09:40.660 However, seen from the outside, courtesans could appear to be slaves as well. 09:41.250 --> 09:45.290 The old lady said when the bans were announced, she felt a chill down her spine. 09:45.720 --> 09:48.680 Officially, slavery is banned, but in practice, 09:48.680 --> 09:52.730 everyone knows it still exists under a different name. 09:53.590 --> 09:56.400 Well, I'd better get going. 09:56.980 --> 10:00.260 Maomao, you probably shouldn't be wasting too much time outside either, right? 10:00.260 --> 10:02.870 Well, yeah, but... 10:03.750 --> 10:06.730 Does the empress dowager visiting the clinic have anything to do with 10:06.730 --> 10:10.880 what happened at the Crystal Pavilion the other day? 10:11.530 --> 10:13.700 If the empress dowager is on the case, 10:13.700 --> 10:17.470 there could be a big reform in the medical system in the rear palace. 10:17.470 --> 10:20.410 If that's what's being discussed, I'd love to listen in, but... 10:23.380 --> 10:24.140 Nah, I'm going home. 10:26.050 --> 10:28.800 I've been causing a lot of upset lately... 10:29.740 --> 10:30.600 Do over! 10:30.600 --> 10:31.620 Yes... 10:33.100 --> 10:34.320 This is the third time. 10:34.780 --> 10:38.200 I was wondering if I was starting to get bullied now, but... 10:38.560 --> 10:39.720 Pay attention! 10:39.720 --> 10:40.560 Yes! 10:40.560 --> 10:41.400 There! 10:41.400 --> 10:42.270 Yes! 10:42.270 --> 10:44.700 The other ladies-in-waiting are getting nitpicked, too... 10:44.700 --> 10:48.500 Be extra careful this time! I don't want to see a speck of dust! 10:48.770 --> 10:51.960 What's going on? Is someone coming to visit? 10:54.780 --> 10:57.520 It's been a while, Lady Anshi. 11:00.980 --> 11:03.340 It was the empress dowager! 11:04.410 --> 11:06.410 Are you well? 11:06.890 --> 11:09.020 Thank you for your compassion. 11:09.370 --> 11:13.270 So, the empress dowager knows that Lady Gyokuyou is pregnant. 11:13.810 --> 11:16.780 I guess she must be really trustworthy. 11:21.740 --> 11:26.620 This feels more like "two friends a few years apart," not "wife and mother-in-law." 11:27.820 --> 11:28.960 You there. 11:30.230 --> 11:33.630 You're the lady-in-waiting assigned here from Jinshi's place, yes? 11:33.890 --> 11:35.940 Yes, I am. 11:35.940 --> 11:37.130 How does she know that? 11:37.620 --> 11:43.140 Suiren told me. She said a girl worth training had gone back to the rear palace. 11:43.140 --> 11:46.470 She used to be my lady-in-waiting, you know. 11:48.360 --> 11:53.900 I see. That wily lady-in-waiting and the empress dowager know each other. 11:59.310 --> 12:02.380 Lady Anshi, I beg your pardon. 12:02.380 --> 12:06.780 It seems Lingli is tired. May I put her to bed? 12:07.420 --> 12:09.580 Yes, of course. 12:13.620 --> 12:17.070 She really can take a hint. 12:19.090 --> 12:21.760 Please, take a seat. 12:22.140 --> 12:22.920 Yes... 12:24.920 --> 12:29.600 I hear you go around solving problems. 12:31.730 --> 12:35.230 I merely voice facts from my limited pool of knowledge 12:35.230 --> 12:38.270 that I feel are appropriate for the situation. 12:41.020 --> 12:43.490 Did that sound too negative? 12:43.810 --> 12:48.950 But I don't have an incredible imagination or the deep knowledge my dad has. 12:49.860 --> 12:52.730 I have to tell her beforehand, otherwise I'd feel uneasy. 12:53.260 --> 12:56.020 It's just the way I do things. 13:00.570 --> 13:02.190 That's fine. 13:06.120 --> 13:11.040 I just want you to do your best to look into something. 13:15.000 --> 13:16.250 Did I... 13:18.910 --> 13:22.400 put a curse on the late emperor? 13:40.200 --> 13:42.000 A curse, huh? 13:42.530 --> 13:46.010 Perhaps it's natural for someone to think that way. 13:46.910 --> 13:51.260 To be honest, I've only ever heard people speak poorly of the previous emperor. 13:51.660 --> 13:55.650 "Foolish emperor," "idiot ruler," "puppet of the empress." 13:55.650 --> 14:00.020 The one most famous in the rear palace would probably be "pedophile". 14:01.740 --> 14:04.100 Taking a very young wife as part of a political marriage 14:04.100 --> 14:06.280 or for collateral on a loan is not unheard of. 14:06.650 --> 14:11.070 However, the last emperor deliberately chose the youngest girls available, 14:11.070 --> 14:13.790 despite being surrounded by women of a more appropriate age. 14:15.290 --> 14:17.800 The empress dowager has a scar on her stomach. 14:18.730 --> 14:21.260 When she gave birth to the current emperor, 14:21.260 --> 14:24.790 the empress dowager was not yet mature. 14:24.790 --> 14:27.050 They had to cut her belly open to retrieve the baby. 14:27.470 --> 14:30.490 The unfortunate doctor who had to become a eunuch 14:30.490 --> 14:35.310 to help with that surgery was Luomen, my dad. 14:35.890 --> 14:40.280 Thanks perhaps to those sacrifices, the current emperor grew up strong and healthy, 14:40.280 --> 14:43.820 and the empress dowager later gave birth to her second son, the imperial brother. 14:44.250 --> 14:48.070 If I remember correctly, the brother is one year older than me. 14:48.490 --> 14:51.820 The empress dowager must have been approaching thirty years old at that point. 14:52.420 --> 14:54.830 Obviously no longer a little girl. 14:55.330 --> 14:56.720 Which means... 14:58.060 --> 15:01.710 Is the imperial brother really the son of the previous emperor...? 15:03.380 --> 15:06.750 If I said that out loud, I could be beheaded. 15:10.380 --> 15:12.800 A few days later, the empress dowager 15:12.800 --> 15:17.310 invited the four high-ranking concubines to a tea party. 15:17.740 --> 15:19.810 This way, Lady Gyokuyou. 15:20.110 --> 15:24.270 There's still some time before the tea party begins. Please rest here. 15:24.270 --> 15:26.570 Thank you. I will do that. 15:29.640 --> 15:34.570 Lady Gyokuyou is getting sleepy often, a symptom of early pregnancy. 15:35.740 --> 15:40.960 What is the empress dowager thinking? Meeting outside the rear palace for tea? 15:40.960 --> 15:45.420 It's outside the rear palace, but it's the inner court, where the emperor lives. 15:45.770 --> 15:50.160 That's why it's scary! We never go there usually. 15:50.160 --> 15:55.350 The empress dowager knows Lady Gyokuyou is pregnant. So why now? 15:55.660 --> 16:00.060 You're right, but I think we can trust the empress dowager to be careful about that. 16:00.400 --> 16:04.970 Sure, the empress dowager will. But who knows what the other concubines will think? 16:06.250 --> 16:09.710 Lady Gyokuyou's pregnancy is an open secret, 16:09.710 --> 16:14.950 but at a face-to-face tea party, there could be a more direct probe. 16:15.800 --> 16:20.950 I guess Lady Lihua would avoid asking questions that could backfire on herself. 16:21.540 --> 16:27.190 Also, Lady Lihua is a proud woman. She wouldn't try to undercut others. 16:27.670 --> 16:32.210 It would also be a bad idea for Lady Gyokuyou to pick a fight with Lady Lihua, 16:32.210 --> 16:33.970 since Lady Lihua has a more noble bloodline. 16:34.660 --> 16:38.680 Lady Lishu might say something if urged to do so by her ladies-in-waiting, 16:38.680 --> 16:42.360 but I doubt that head lady-in-waiting, the former taster, would step out of line. 16:43.590 --> 16:45.910 That leaves Concubine Loulan as the possibility. 16:46.360 --> 16:50.980 She's strangely free of rumors, aside from the well-known one about her flashy fashion. 16:53.090 --> 16:55.910 Maomao, can I have a moment? 16:57.510 --> 16:58.200 Yes. 17:02.750 --> 17:04.160 How may I help? 17:04.160 --> 17:09.670 I will be the taster today. You understand what that means, right? 17:10.430 --> 17:11.380 Yes, I do. 17:12.770 --> 17:16.750 By not having a separate taster at a party set up by the empress dowager, 17:16.750 --> 17:20.890 it demonstrates our trust in her. 17:21.310 --> 17:23.300 And, regarding you specifically, 17:23.920 --> 17:27.400 the empress dowager would like your help with something. 17:28.100 --> 17:30.900 Have you been asked to solve a problem again? 17:32.670 --> 17:36.830 Did I... put a curse on the late emperor? 17:37.450 --> 17:41.070 I'd like to speak to you elsewhere. 17:41.640 --> 17:45.460 Don't answer that, I know you can't tell me. 17:45.460 --> 17:46.370 However! 17:46.890 --> 17:50.920 Please don't do anything to betray Lady Gyokuyou, all right? 17:52.340 --> 17:55.880 I have no desire to get on your bad side, Lady Hongniang. 17:59.800 --> 18:04.430 Good. I would also like to maintain a good relationship with you, Maomao. 18:05.560 --> 18:06.890 Indeed. 18:07.390 --> 18:12.100 Lady Hongniang really deserves the title of head lady-in-waiting for Lady Gyokuyou. 18:17.170 --> 18:19.330 If the empress dowager wants to discuss something, 18:19.330 --> 18:20.950 it's most likely the curse she mentioned. 18:25.140 --> 18:26.410 Thank you for waiting. 18:27.120 --> 18:28.220 This way. 18:30.060 --> 18:34.920 This used to serve the rear palace's function before the current rear palace was built. 18:35.410 --> 18:36.880 I see. 18:38.600 --> 18:43.100 There's nobody here, but the cleaning is impeccable. 18:49.150 --> 18:52.730 The pebbles on the dry landscape garden are well laid out, too. 18:56.010 --> 18:57.110 This is the place. 18:58.330 --> 19:00.120 We can't go any further. 19:00.120 --> 19:04.400 Not even the cleaners are allowed to enter this place. 19:13.370 --> 19:15.000 What is this smell? 19:15.960 --> 19:17.430 What is this room...? 19:19.120 --> 19:21.530 During the reign of our emperor's grandfather, 19:21.530 --> 19:25.710 a court lady who became a low-ranking concubine lived here. 19:27.380 --> 19:30.130 This was the room of the woman who was referred to as the empress. 19:30.130 --> 19:34.900 This was also where the late emperor was raised, and where he passed away. 19:38.890 --> 19:40.410 Let's go somewhere else. 19:54.220 --> 19:58.890 During his final years, the late emperor, and his mother, the so-called empress, 19:58.890 --> 20:01.610 spent a lot of time in that room. 20:02.930 --> 20:05.520 As if clinging to their memories, they spent much time there. 20:05.520 --> 20:07.890 The late emperor, perhaps due to a weakened spirit, 20:08.370 --> 20:10.080 drew his last breath in that room, 20:10.080 --> 20:13.390 shortly after the empress died, as if chasing after her. 20:13.770 --> 20:17.850 This may sound rude, but he wasn't young when he passed away, right? 20:17.850 --> 20:21.160 He was old enough to be described as dying a natural death. 20:21.160 --> 20:24.410 Then why does the empress dowager think she cursed him? 20:25.280 --> 20:28.860 I also suggested to her that there is no curse. 20:28.860 --> 20:30.750 However, Lady Anshi said... 20:31.210 --> 20:33.230 I cursed him. 20:33.230 --> 20:37.300 I wished he would go away. For the longest time... 20:38.350 --> 20:40.650 Almost every night, I wished for it. 20:42.860 --> 20:47.010 Is there anything else to suggest that a curse was at play? 20:49.470 --> 20:52.170 The late emperor's body, after his spirit left it, 20:52.170 --> 20:54.770 was placed in a mausoleum for a year as is customary. 20:55.290 --> 21:02.250 A year later, when our emperor and Lady Anshi took a look at the body to bury it... 21:04.220 --> 21:09.150 The body was almost exactly the same as when he had passed away. 21:11.580 --> 21:14.160 You mean there was no decay? 21:14.540 --> 21:18.010 Correct. The empress's body, who had passed away at around the same time, 21:18.010 --> 21:21.460 was in a state that no words could describe. Yet... 21:22.490 --> 21:26.720 So that's why Lady Anshi thinks she cursed the late emperor. 21:27.120 --> 21:28.020 Yes. 21:28.680 --> 21:30.300 I see. 21:31.490 --> 21:36.230 The mausoleum is chilly even in summer, but every corpse rots, 21:36.620 --> 21:39.930 gets infested with insects, and dries out, unless it's placed in ice or something. 21:40.330 --> 21:43.740 If that didn't happen, that is indeed quite unusual. 21:44.210 --> 21:46.470 Everyone returns to dust in the end. 21:46.920 --> 21:49.160 That's true for nobles, farmers, and everybody else. 21:49.590 --> 21:53.860 No matter the status one is born into, that is the equalizer. 21:54.950 --> 21:58.320 That building will be torn down soon. 21:58.320 --> 22:00.710 We would like you to investigate before that happens. 22:01.050 --> 22:02.140 I understand. 22:02.670 --> 22:05.970 However, I have just one request. 22:07.050 --> 22:07.970 A request? 23:45.020 --> 23:59.950 Next Time 23:56.430 --> 23:59.160 Next time: "The Late Emperor." 23:56.490 --> 23:59.950 Episode 33: The Late Emperor