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ORIGINAL STORY BY NATSU HYUUGA
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{\an8}THIS STORY IS A FICION, AND ALL NAMES OF
FIGURES ND ORGANIZATIONS ARE FICTITIOUS.
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{\an8}MOREOVER, THE STORY HAS NO RELATION
TO REAL-LIFE INCIDENTS AND EVENTS.
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I accept my loss.
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- You've improved, Basen.
- No.
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I merely push through with force.
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I'm still no match for you, Sir Jinshi.
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But that is a great force you have.
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As expected from the Ma clan.
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So how is she, Gaoshun?
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The apothecary, I mean.
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How do you mean?
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Has she gained a little weight?
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She's slowly gaining it back.
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I see. However...
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Do you even know why this was forbidden?
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I'm saying it's poison, damn it!
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I never imagined she had such
a side to her.
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Are you all right?
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- What? Why?
- You worry about her quite a lot.
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No, it's nothing.
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I knew it was here!
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All right!
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Another one!
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Here too?
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Where should I eat this? In the kitchen?
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But it'd be troublesome if they ask
where I got this...
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Oh, before that...
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Wow, it looks so good!
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Thanks for doing this again, Maomao!
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The other attendants are so kind
to share dim sum
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each time we have tea together!
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Eat more!
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You need to get more fat.
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Don't be shy!
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- Oh, did you hear?
- Huh?
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An Imperial Court palace woman
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succeeded in seducing a eunuch
who's famous for hating women!
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I see.
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- How do you think she did it?
- I have no idea.
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She used a stimulant potion!
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Stimulant potion?
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It's that one.
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What's wrong, Maomao?
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Oh, it's nothing.
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It's probably unrelated. I think...
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Good morning.
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Hey, miss! What do you need today?
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I have something to ask you in confidence.
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What is it?
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- It's this.
- Wow!
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It's the first matsutake mushroom
of the year!
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I'm glad you seem to like these.
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We need coal!
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I'll also bring some soy paste and salt!
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All in all,
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I've built a good relationship
with the quack doctor.
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This is the stuff!
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It looks ready now.
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Drizzle some soy paste, add a little salt...
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Here you are.
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It's so good!
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Now, we're partners in crime.
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So delicious!
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Doctor!
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Could you...?
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Make something to cure my curse?
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A curse?
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- What is this about?
- It's this.
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That's a pretty bad rash.
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Maybe some ointment first?
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Will you make me some?
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Sure.
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So, what is this curse?
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This happened in the evening
two nights ago.
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The trash produced
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in the rear palace is burned in the fire
on the west.
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I was working that night
like always, then...
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What is it?
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A woman's clothing? The sleeves are burnt.
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And is this a wood tablet?
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It bothered me a little,
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but I threw them in the fire as is.
But then...
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It's a curse!
That's why my hands are like this...
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Was the flame you saw this color?
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If not this, then this.
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I can make this one too.
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Miss, what is this?
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It works the same way as fireworks.
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Some things can change
the color of the flame when it burns.
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So what about this hand?
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My guess is something was attached
to the wood tablet.
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The rash came from
coming into contact with that.
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Apply this ointment and see if it works.
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Thank you very much.
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Her medicine always works well!
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You'll get better in no time!
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Wonderful. As expected of the apothecary.
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Sir Jinshi!
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I'll prepare some tea right away.
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How do you do, Sir Jinshi?
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Did you need something?
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Are you saying I can't talk to you
if I don't need something?
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No, not at all.
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Come with me.
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Here you are, Sir Jinshi...
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How many colors are there?
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I don't know the exact number.
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How do you apply the color, then?
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With salt, you can apply color
by dissolving it in water.
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I know there are certain dyes
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that dissolve with things like oil,
not water.
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But this isn't my area of expertise,
so I don't know.
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I see.
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If we're finished here, I'll be off.
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Wait.
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What is it?
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I love mushrooms too.
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I'm expecting good work, Apothecary.
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So he knew...
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I'll go out tomorrow... To look for them...
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Search for those who've suffered
a burn to their arm recently.
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Understood, sir.
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A colored wood tablet is probably a code...
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Do they go through the trouble
of making a code
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because the information can't be
made public?
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But what could that be...?
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It's not my business, really.
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It's nothing a poison tester should
meddle in.
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Thank you.
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That one goes there.
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I'm back.
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Welcome home...
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Maomao! Perfect timing.
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Can you put this on?
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I have a bad feeling...
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What is this?
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The costume for the garden party,
obviously!
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The garden party?
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Twice a year, the Emperor
and the higher-ups gather
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at the court garden to enjoy
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performances and a meal.
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The Emperor isn't married yet,
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so he has no consort.
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In that case,
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He is to take
the highest status concubines.
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Highest status concubine...
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The most likely candidates for the
next consort, the high-ranking concubines.
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The highest ranking concubines...
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The four high-ranking concubines.
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The Precious Concubine,
Concubine Gyokuyou.
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The Wise Concubine, Concubine Lihua.
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The Virtuous Concubine, Concubine Lishu.
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The Pure Concubine, Concubine Ah-Duo.
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At the last party,
Ladies Gyokuyou and Lihua
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were absent because they were
heavily pregnant.
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So this time,
all four ladies are to gather!
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So what are we doing there?
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Nothing, really.
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We're the guests invited to this party,
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so we just have to stay with the Emperor.
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Sometimes, the officials come to greet us.
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So don't forget to smile.
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Is everyone to attend?
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Of course!
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The first showing of Princess Lingli,
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the four ladies gathering...
This year is important!
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This is a war! We have to take this on!
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Let's do this!
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Lady Gyokuyou already has
very few attendants.
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A newcomer can't be absent...
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And if there are meals,
the poison tester needs to be there.
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We should stuff your chest area.
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I'll also add a bit to your hips.
Is that okay?
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I'll let you decide.
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The makeup will be impeccable too!
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We have to hide those freckles sometimes.
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Watching performances outdoors
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where it's windy, eating meals,
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smiling at the officials who come our way...
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My bladder will need to be
as strong as iron.
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In that case...
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This should work.
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It smells so good!
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What are you making?
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- I'm making ginger and orange candy.
- Candy?
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Orange peels improve blood flow
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and ginger can warm the body.
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Is this for the garden party?
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Yes. I also made this.
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I sewed a pocket to my undershirt.
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If I place warming stones inside,
I won't get as cold.
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- Maomao!
- Huh?
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Please, will you make that for everyone?
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Yes, ma'am...
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Once you get used to customs,
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I guess you don't think about
these small things.
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A little creativity can go a long way.
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- Come in.
- Please make one for me too.
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- Me too...
- Yes, sir.
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Can you show me how to make that?
202
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Please!
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The seamstress in charge of
the Emperor's clothes and His chef...
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Wow, so cold!
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I'm finally finished!
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Tomorrow's the big day.
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I'll make that just in case.
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About the search for those with
burns on their arm...
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You haven't found them yet?
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I'm sorry.
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The garden party...
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I hope nothing happens there...
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00:14:43,215 --> 00:14:45,175
You're so beautiful, Lady Gyokuyou!
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Red suits you so well!
215
00:14:47,803 --> 00:14:50,389
How beautiful she is...
216
00:14:50,472 --> 00:14:53,684
So it's true that she looks the best
in red in this whole country.
217
00:14:53,767 --> 00:14:57,021
You're more beautiful than anyone.
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Thank you, everyone.
And these are for you.
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I need to leave my mark
220
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so that no one unsavory targets you.
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Maomao.
222
00:15:11,327 --> 00:15:13,162
Listen, Maomao.
223
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You're my attendant, okay?
224
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Thank you so much, my lady.
225
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Got you!
226
00:15:25,341 --> 00:15:26,550
Um, well...
227
00:15:26,634 --> 00:15:28,636
Let's do your makeup!
228
00:15:29,345 --> 00:15:31,221
Go be your cutest self.
229
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I'll wipe your face and apply perfume oil.
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And those freckles of yours...
231
00:15:35,684 --> 00:15:36,727
Here we go!
232
00:15:39,939 --> 00:15:42,107
- Huh?
- Maomao?
233
00:15:42,191 --> 00:15:44,401
- No way!
- Why?
234
00:15:44,485 --> 00:15:45,861
Maomao, you...
235
00:15:47,321 --> 00:15:50,366
Dang. They know now.
236
00:15:52,034 --> 00:15:54,036
All right. Let's go.
237
00:16:13,430 --> 00:16:16,684
All right, then, Concubine Lishu.
See you later.
238
00:16:17,267 --> 00:16:18,394
Yes!
239
00:16:19,436 --> 00:16:20,854
Sir Jinshi...
240
00:16:27,277 --> 00:16:30,906
Last up is the Precious Concubine,
Concubine Gyokuyou.
241
00:16:33,325 --> 00:16:36,328
Is his commitment to
Concubine Gyokuyou strong
242
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because he found a toy he likes?
243
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What can I do with him?
244
00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:49,591
Maomao, you helped us out a lot.
245
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I'm happy to be of use.
246
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How do you do, Concubine Gyokuyou?
247
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How do you do?
248
00:16:55,848 --> 00:16:58,684
You look beautiful in red as always,
Concubine Gyokuyou.
249
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While decorative,
you look somewhat mystical.
250
00:17:02,730 --> 00:17:06,275
It's probably due to your beautiful
green eyes, Concubine Gyokuyou.
251
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Thank you.
252
00:17:13,574 --> 00:17:15,868
All right, so how is the princess doing?
253
00:17:25,627 --> 00:17:27,379
How do you do, Sir Jinshi?
254
00:17:31,216 --> 00:17:33,385
Oh, oh... It's you, Apothecary.
255
00:17:34,136 --> 00:17:35,262
You're wearing foundation?
256
00:17:35,345 --> 00:17:37,014
No, I'm not.
257
00:17:37,639 --> 00:17:38,932
But your freckles are gone.
258
00:17:39,558 --> 00:17:40,934
Because I got rid of them.
259
00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:42,895
With makeup, right?
260
00:17:42,978 --> 00:17:45,355
They went away
because I removed my makeup.
261
00:17:47,441 --> 00:17:50,402
You're not making any sense.
262
00:17:50,486 --> 00:17:51,904
You're contradicting yourself.
263
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Oh, this is a pain.
264
00:17:53,739 --> 00:17:56,200
I should've just said yes.
265
00:17:56,283 --> 00:17:57,785
I was applying makeup daily,
266
00:17:57,868 --> 00:18:01,371
using dried clay to draw the freckles on.
267
00:18:01,455 --> 00:18:05,501
What you've been seeing every day
is my face with makeup.
268
00:18:06,085 --> 00:18:09,213
Makeup isn't simply for
making someone beautiful.
269
00:18:10,214 --> 00:18:11,757
Why do such a thing?
270
00:18:13,634 --> 00:18:15,260
You really want to know?
271
00:18:16,553 --> 00:18:19,306
It's so that I'm not dragged away
to a back alley.
272
00:18:21,391 --> 00:18:25,145
Even in the pleasure district,
there are men starving for women.
273
00:18:25,229 --> 00:18:28,398
Broke men, violent men,
and men with venereal diseases.
274
00:18:29,566 --> 00:18:34,154
A small, scraggy and ugly woman
would rarely be a target.
275
00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:36,615
Has that happened to you?
276
00:18:36,698 --> 00:18:38,117
It was just an attempt.
277
00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:40,911
I was carried off by kidnappers instead.
278
00:18:44,373 --> 00:18:46,750
My makeup was falling off.
279
00:18:46,834 --> 00:18:50,420
They thought that maybe I could be sold.
280
00:18:50,504 --> 00:18:51,922
I see...
281
00:18:53,215 --> 00:18:56,426
I apologize for my poor management.
282
00:18:56,510 --> 00:18:58,971
It doesn't matter.
283
00:18:59,054 --> 00:19:02,599
Whether it's illegal kidnapping,
or legally selling off children,
284
00:19:02,683 --> 00:19:05,018
it's all the same to those who buy.
285
00:19:06,603 --> 00:19:08,272
This doesn't infuriate you?
286
00:19:08,355 --> 00:19:11,024
Of course it does.
287
00:19:11,108 --> 00:19:14,111
But it's not your fault, Sir Jinshi.
288
00:19:17,990 --> 00:19:19,533
I'm sorry...
289
00:19:21,660 --> 00:19:23,704
He's being meek. That's rare.
290
00:19:31,295 --> 00:19:32,129
That hurts.
291
00:19:33,422 --> 00:19:35,883
I see. It's for you.
292
00:19:38,093 --> 00:19:40,387
I'll see you at the party.
293
00:19:47,728 --> 00:19:48,770
Huh?
294
00:19:51,982 --> 00:19:54,318
A man's hair clip?
295
00:19:54,401 --> 00:19:55,903
But why...?
296
00:19:57,487 --> 00:19:59,489
- So cool!
- I'm so jealous!
297
00:19:59,573 --> 00:20:01,575
I want one too!
298
00:20:01,658 --> 00:20:04,286
I don't mind giving it,
but how can I share it?
299
00:20:04,369 --> 00:20:07,581
You already broke my promise?
300
00:20:07,664 --> 00:20:08,540
Huh?
301
00:20:11,585 --> 00:20:14,755
You're not just my attendant anymore.
302
00:20:17,716 --> 00:20:20,427
What does that mean...?
303
00:20:22,221 --> 00:20:23,472
It's time.
304
00:20:50,415 --> 00:20:53,001
The garden party is about to start.
305
00:22:36,063 --> 00:22:39,149
PREVIEW OF NEXT EPISODE
306
00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:49,743
{\an8}Next episode, "The Garden Party."
307
00:22:49,826 --> 00:22:51,703
{\an8}Subtitle translation by: Yukimi Ohashi