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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.

Is this authentic?

Of course.

Have you gotten even prettier?

Episode 25: Maomao and Maomao

What is this huge pile, Granny?

Maomao ordered it, apparently.

Again?

This'll be a good business.

Just deliver it like you're told.

Understood.

They're beautiful.

I'm thinking of keeping some in my room.

Is everything going well?

Y-Yes.

After the garden party, Master Shishou
did ask for more ladies-in-waiting for her.

This seems like far too many, though...

Yes. It's not a good look for the other ladies.

Greetings, Concubine Loulan.

Oh? Looking for something?

Oh, no.

Maomao is at the clinic.

It really is spring.

What are you doing?

Why do you ask like that?

I'm making scented oils.

While cleaning up the clinic, I found a still.

I'm using some of the blooms left over
from the blue roses we grew the other day.

The scent is really strong.

It's still weaker than wild roses.

What can I do for you?

Anyone would grow concerned,
given such a strong scent.

Are you making it here because
you can't do it at the Jade Pavilion?

That too, but...

Some scented oils can cause miscarriages.

It shouldn't be an issue unless
it's extremely concentrated, but...

So, there's no need to restrict perfumes
and things like that in the rear palace?

Right. It shouldn't be a problem.

The quack doctor is a nice guy,
but can't keep his mouth shut.

He shouldn't know about Concubine
Gyokuyou's pregnancy yet.

What's this?

I'm distilling alcohol.

By distilling repeatedly,
I can create a very strong alcohol.

You're going to drink this?!

It's for disinfecting.

I want the Jade Pavilion
to be as clean as possible,

since we have a small princess there.

You can do that?

You soak a cloth in this,
and wipe surfaces, among other things.

You're very knowledgeable.

I heard that's what they do in the west.

Oh, right. Your adoptive father is...

We brought your package.

What is this?

Ah, the little lady—

Master Jinshi, I will make
some tea. Please have a seat.

What's inside?

This is a package from my family.
It's nothing, really!

Oh, from your family?

What's wrong with this guy?!

Th-There are... undergarments inside.

Oh... I see.

But what are these undergarments made of,
if they require two men to carry?

The problem with the rear palace is that

the women are expected to be
excessively innocent in matters of sex.

Most of the ladies-in-waiting
gathered here are virgins.

What if the emperor finds
a girl to his liking,

only to have her fail to perform
due to her ignorance?

That's why I thought they need
to be educated beforehand.

So... you had these brought in?

Books, like the ones from
back then. You know, then.

After all the work I did to get them
delivered to the clinic,

out of Lady Hongniang's sight...

I used to order them for the emperor,
who loves these,

but I increased the order to get more business.

Bad timing, though.

These books...

are very well made.

The paper is of high quality.

That's what he noticed? I thought
maybe he was a closet pervert.

These books are sometimes used
as part of a new bride's package,

and it's popular because the pictures are
enough to enjoy, even if you can't read.

A print.

Not woodblock prints,
but ones that use metal plates.

That's impressive.

Yes. Because it's so good, I wanted
as many people to see it as possible.

That's a separate issue.

If you find this to your liking,
perhaps you should keep one?

N-No! That's definitely not it!

I guess I can let you
off the hook this one time.

Really?!

Tell me which shop sells these.

No! I just want to know
about their printing techniques!

Yes, of course. The shop, got it.

Xiaomao.

What is it?

Perhaps some of the more
explicit ones need to be censored.

But the emperor said the previous ones
weren't exciting enough, so—

No.

Sigh... And after I asked Granny to do
all that work to pick the best ones...

Oh, what is it that I seek,
beneath those beautiful flowers?

Hey, what do you think is buried there?

Huh.

Manure?

You ate too quickly.

No, it's your fault!

This novel is really popular, you know!

Can you read, Xiaolan?

Nope! But one of the girls
who can is reading it out loud for us.

I want to know the rest!

If even the illiterate
servant girls know the story,

the book must truly be popular.

I'm back.

What is that?

The emperor handed it out
to all of the concubines.

He said once they're done reading it,
they should show the others, as well.

Do you want to read it too, Maomao?

Looks like it's the same as the one
Xiaolan talked about. A popular novel.

These are considered low class
in high society. So I wonder why...

Hmm? This stamp...

It's from the place I told
Master Jinshi about the other day.

It might be a novel, but it's of a high
quality, befitting a gift from the emperor.

If he gave it out to all of the concubines,
there must be at least one hundred copies.

Master Jinshi must have
asked the emperor to do it.

Wow! What a page-turner! I can't stop!

I should have charged a commission!

But why? Novels are considered lowly.

Why hand it out to concubines of noble birth...

I knew it had to do with politics.
He really was scheming something.

Oh no, I finished it!

I want to read the rest!

Master Gaoshun said he'll hand out
the next one when they're ready.

Is something wrong?

Well, we're the only ladies-in-waiting
at the Jade Pavilion, right?

It feels like a waste, having a gift from
Lady Gyokuyou like this enjoyed by just us.

But we can't hand it out to the girls
outside the pavilion. It's too precious.

What if they lost it?

You're right.

Instead of handing out the originals,
you could create copies yourself.

Maybe the pictures are too difficult,
but Lady Ailan, your penmanship is excellent.

It shouldn't be a problem
for you to make copies.

Y-You think so?

Yikes, that sounds like a lot of work!

Yinghua, don't say that!

This is probably the correct
interpretation of Master Jinshi's idea.

Let's give it a try.

Where should we start?

If books became popular in the rear palace,

many will want to try to learn to read,

especially if the book is a popular novel.

Back when I was Master Jinshi's
servant, he did ask me...

Apothecary, what do you think we can do to
improve the literacy rate of the court ladies?

Still, he chose a very
roundabout way of doing it.

Hey, Maomao!

Please teach me how to read and write!

Where'd that come from?

The girl who read the novels out loud for us
wore out her voice by reading too much.

Instead, she made copies of
the books for us, but I can't read.

Then I could read them to you—

No!

That girl spent so much time making
copies for me. I can't cheat like that.

Good girl.

Hey, what's this, all of a sudden?!

This is your name. Try to write it yourself.

Xiaolan

Got it!

Xiaolan

I didn't know my name was so complicated.

Writing helps you learn to read too,
but do you want to just focus on reading?

No, I might as well learn to write, too!

Once I leave the rear palace,
I have to work on my own.

Being able to read and write helps, right?

What is this?!

Xiaolan is thinking about
her future in her own way.

Let's go a bit quickly, then.

Yes, thank you!

What does this say?

Mushroom fungus.

And this?

Mushroom fungus

Thornapple

Kudzu root

Thornapple.

This?

Kudzu root.

Hey, are those commonly used words?

We should start with greetings.

Sounds good.

Is Princess Lingli allowed to go on walks now?

Yes. The pavilion has become
a bit too small for her, so I asked.

She really likes to run around
all over the place.

What do you think, Maomao?

I agree. For the princess's health, it would
be best for her to go outside more.

Two eunuchs will follow her as guards.

Could you and Hongniang accompany her?

Understood.

All of the emperor's previous children
have passed away very young.

This seems like a bit of
an overreaction for a simple walk,

but I guess it's understandable.

Maomao, you know a lot about
flowers and creatures.

Can you teach Lingli while we're outside?

Lady Gyokuyou, no! She'll teach
the princess all sorts of nasty things.

Oh? I think it's useful.

Who knows where she'll get married off?

The princess is still a baby, but in
a decade or so, talks of marriage may arise.

If she went to a foreign nation,
she might not necessarily be welcome.

Knowing about medicines
and poisons can only help her.

She really is a clever concubine.

Reactions to seeing the princess are varied.

They represent the differing
views towards her.

Perhaps soon, she'll learn
what those eyes mean.

That's a primrose.

Oh, Princess!

Princess!

Princess! You mustn't!

I'll go take a look.

A kitten?

Princess!

I have to catch it?

Oh, well.

Found you!

You want this?

Oh, I thought you were
trying to catch it. Was I wrong?

Thank you.

Here.

It might be hungry. I'll leave it to you!

See ya!

Maomao, is that...

Yes, a cat.

It's dirty. The princess
shouldn't touch it for now.

R-Right...

Let's keep it safe for the time being.
I'll let management know.

Yes.

Oh, how rare. A kitten.

I found it.

How sad. It's trembling.

I just boiled some water. Hold on a moment.

This is strange, though.

There are almost no pets in the rear palace.

Keeping an animal requires a permit,

and cats and dogs need to be castrated.

Where was this kitten born?

Wrap a bottle of hot water with cloth,
and put it next to it.

You seem to be familiar with this.

I found a cat before, too.

It was a very cute calico.

I see.

It's very skinny. Do we
have any livestock milk?

Sure, I'll go ask the kitchen.

Also, a livestock intestine.

I-Intestine?!

I was thinking of using it as
a replacement for its mother's teat.

We had sausages a few times,
perhaps there's some in the kitchen...

Sure, I'll go ask.

It would have been best
to bathe it in warm water,

but in its current state, it won't survive.

Instead, I'll have to wipe off
the dirt with a cloth,

and kill any fleas with oil.

Little lady, I found some goat milk!

And some intestine, too.

Thank you.

So cute. So cute!

That night, the emperor
visited the Jade Pavilion.

We've decided to keep the kitten.

Do continue to take care of it.

The emperor can be a doting parent, too.

Maomao, taking care of a kitten.
It suits your name, too.

When the kitten grew healthier,

I washed it with a detergent
made of crushed soap beans.

Wow, the water went grey.

I fed it milk for a while,
but as it improved,

it started to be able to eat shredded chicken.

When we put down a box filled with
sand, it relieved itself on its own.

We can't have you scratching the princess.

How goes the child-raising?

I think she's ready to be
presented to the princess.

Good.

Small fish? They might be a bit
tough as-is. Shall I boil them?

O-Of course.

She's female.

Yes. I'm glad we don't have to castrate—

My apologies.

No, don't worry about it.

Let me get you a snack as an apology...

Can't put these out, I guess.

You want to try?

I don't actually like cats.

With your name?

I get that a lot.

Master Jinshi, you seem to like cats.

Not as much as those two.

I don't really understand the appeal.

I agree. However, according to cat lovers,

the fact that you can't tell what
they're thinking is part of the appeal.

Oh.

They're fun to watch. You can't
keep your eyes off of them.

After a while, you start
to want to touch them.

Hmm.

They usually behave coldly,

but suddenly become friendly
when you feed them, which is annoying.

Ox bezoar

R-Right...

At that point, they say
you just kind of give up.

Poking at their paws, kissing them...
it all seems very unsanitary.

What's wrong, Master Jinshi?

I'm starting to see it, too.

Is that so?

They never figured out
where the kitten came from,

so they assumed she must have
snuck in with a luggage cart.

Later, the kitten...

was bestowed the title of "Admonisher
of Thieves" by the emperor.

In other words, she was tasked with chasing
down rats threatening the clinic's reserves.

But...

Maomao

I'll never understand why they
decided to name her Maomao.

Let's get this cleaned up fast.

Yes. The caravan is coming soon.

Caravan...?

Next Time

Next time: "Caravan."

Episode 26: Caravan