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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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{\an8}I heard that the palace woman
who drowned and died killed herself,
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she was the maid for the Garnet Pavilion.
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She was the one
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who poisoned Lady Lishu
at the garden party.
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Maybe she did it for her master,
Concubine Ah-Duo.
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The Pure Concubine?
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Yes.
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It was rumored that she'd be removed
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from the four ladies
and replaced by a younger concubine.
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Concubine Ah-Duo, at age 35,
is a year older than the Emperor.
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She lost a boy that she had
when the Emperor was still
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the Eastern Palace.
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The rear palace exists to have as many
children as possible. It can't be helped...
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A mother of a dead baby boy, huh?
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If Lady Lihua continues to not have
children, will she have the same fate?
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Same with Lady Gyokuyou.
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You never know for how long
she will be the Emperor's favorite.
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Even beautiful flowers will wilt one day.
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Flowers of the rear palace
must bear fruit to have value.
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I have to go back soon.
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Take this, too.
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It's leftovers
from the tea party yesterday.
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Thank you!
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You have so many snacks
that you have leftovers?
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Tea parties are amazing!
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You think?
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Tea parties are duties
that concubines must fulfill.
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Maomao, you get ready, too!
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There's another one?
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Everyone seems to be especially energized.
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Of course we are.
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The Virtuous Concubine,
Lady Lishu, is coming!
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The microcosm of the rear palace
can be found in this one room.
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Welcome, Concubine Lishu.
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Thank you.
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Poking at each other's hidden motives.
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Is it the fate of all women to be on edge
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when facing other women?
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Honestly,
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it's more tense
than when the Emperor comes to visit.
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Lady Gyokuyou is gathering information
even in a friendly conversation.
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She may look gentle,
but she's still a concubine.
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She apparently sends
the information she collects back home.
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Her home is a resting point for trade,
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so it must be important to understand
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the flow of people and the times.
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The food taster at the garden party?
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I'm glad she hadn't been punished
that harshly.
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I won't bite, you know.
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The other attendants aren't
paying attention to their lady at all.
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But it doesn't seem
that they're bullying her for now.
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If my report to Sir Gaoshun was a mistake,
then that's great news.
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You don't dislike sweets, do you?
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I love sweets.
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I'm glad.
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It's cold, so I thought
something like this would be nice.
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I brewed citrus peels with honey.
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It'll warm you up.
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I hope you like it.
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Oh? She can't have honey, either?
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She's being picky again?
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She won't even have what's offered to her?
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Twitch, twitch.
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Lady Gyokuyou.
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Oh, my mistake.
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I'm sorry, Ailan.
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It looks like we need to soak it
a little longer.
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I'll offer something else.
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Can you have ginger tea?
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Yes, I can.
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Unfortunately, it looks like
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the bullying rumors were true.
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Oh.
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Leave the cleaning up to us.
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You go rest, Maomao.
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I can clean up, you know.
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How was the tea party
with Concubines Gyokuyou and Lishu?
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I thought it was weird
to suddenly invite Lady Lishu
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for a tea party.
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It was his plan all along.
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They seemed to enjoy themselves.
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We're not finished talking.
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Will you let me go?
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About the poisoning incident
at the garden party.
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Did you know that it was done by the
Garnet Pavilion maid that killed herself?
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I have heard rumors.
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Do you really think she killed herself?
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That's not for me to decide.
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Why would a mere maid want to
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put poison on Lady Lishu
the Virtuous Concubine's plate?
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I have no idea.
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Then, could you go help
at the Garnet Pavilion starting tomorrow?
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"Could you?"
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He says that,
as if I have any other choice.
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Yes, sir.
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A pavilion's atmosphere
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is determined by its master.
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Lady Gyokuyou's Jade Pavilion is homey,
and Lady Lihua's
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Crystal Pavilion was
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noble and refined.
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And the Garnet Pavilion
where Lady Ah-Duo lives is
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efficient, elegant, and practical.
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Sorry for making you come so suddenly.
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I look forward to working with you
for the next three days.
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I haven't been instructed by Sir Jinshi
to do anything.
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Might as well work, then.
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I haven't seen you around.
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Who are those girls, Fengming?
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They're here to help
with the spring cleaning.
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I see. Thank you for your work.
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The Pure Concubine, Lady Ah-Duo.
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She's neither flashy nor plump,
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but she's both feminine, masculine,
and dignified. She's beautiful.
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So she's 35, huh?
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If she wore the robe, one could
mistake her for a young civil servant.
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She might look better in hufu,
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rather than the robe and skirt
for concubines.
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Looks like they're into her.
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She reminds me of someone.
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Ms. Fengming, the head lady-in-waiting.
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She must come from a good family
based on her position,
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but she's very friendly.
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First, can you hang these books
out to dry?
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If anything is too heavy,
just give it to a eunuch.
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As expected of a veteran
high-ranking concubine.
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Though the mansion is clean,
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it's packed with things.
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Similar to the Jade Pavilion,
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the Garnet Pavilion attendants
are hard workers.
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I'd like to show this to the ladies
who are all talk, no work.
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We're finished here.
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You already got this much done?
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And everything is so neat.
You're a big help.
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Can you help at the reception room, too?
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Yes, ma'am.
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She's friendly, observant,
and praises others well.
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She's skilled in employing others
as the head lady-in-waiting.
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I haven't done physical labor in a while.
I'm tired.
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- Good work. Thank you for helping today.
- Not at all.
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You're spending the night
at the Garnet Pavilion, right?
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Come with me.
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A sweet scent?
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Use this. It'll be cold tonight.
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Thank you, ma'am.
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Rest well.
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I haven't been told by Sir Jinshi
to do anything,
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but...
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Would I really find the mastermind
behind the poisoning here?
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Everyone truly works hard.
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Not just the attendants, but...
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Ms. Fengming!
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We can do the wiping down there.
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It's all right, it's nothing.
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I just noticed it, that's all.
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Ms. Fengming is the leader of the pack.
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She's past the age to get married,
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but if she had,
she would've been a good wife.
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Did she not consider getting married?
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Maybe she chose to dedicate
her whole life to Concubine Ah-Duo.
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A strong sense of loyalty
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could very well be the motive
for the poisoning.
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Now that a new concubine may be coming,
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Lady Ah-Duo's position is at the
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highest risk.
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But what if another seat opens up
before that?
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The Emperor only reacts positively
to ripened fruits.
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As such, he does not visit Lady Lishu.
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This is great news,
considering her age of 14,
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but she's also not fulfilling her duties
as a concubine.
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If the poison attempt was done
for Concubine Ah-Duo,
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Lady Lishu is a reasonable target.
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Can someone help here?
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Honey?
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Ms. Fengming's home runs a bee farm.
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That's why you have so much
high-quality honey.
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So the sweet scent yesterday was honey.
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Lady Lishu?
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She's only here with the food taster?
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Why is she at the Garnet Pavilion?
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Oh, right. At the tea party...
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That's all that happened
at the Garnet Pavilion.
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I see.
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So?
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There's nothing else for me to say.
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I don't know what he's looking for,
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but I'm just a regular apothecary.
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It's not my job to be a spy.
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Anyways, isn't he a little too laid back
these days?
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Let me rephrase my question.
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If anyone were to use special methods
to contact the outside,
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who would it be?
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What a mean question.
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Someone who could possibly do that is
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the head lady-in-waiting, Ms. Fengming.
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Why do you say that?
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She had bandages
wrapped around her left wrist.
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The colored wood tablet from before
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was wrapped around a woman's robe
with burnt sleeves.
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Someone made the effort
to burn different colored flames.
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If the flames meant anything,
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it would be code.
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Honestly, I can't imagine
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a calm head lady-in-waiting like that
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scheming anything like that, but...
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That's only my personal speculation.
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I guess you pass.
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He took the chance to eat some honey.
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I'm sure he knew this much.
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I have to give treats to good girls.
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- No thank you!
- No need for that.
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I don't need it. Do that for someone else.
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Just because he's good-looking,
he thinks he'd get away with anything!
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That's the kind of pervert he was!
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Sir Gaoshun!
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I'll poison you with laxatives!
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- You don't like sweets?
- I like salt and spice.
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But you can eat it, right?
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Shit. I can't get through to him.
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If he wasn't a higher-up,
I would kick him in the crotch.
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00:14:50,890 --> 00:14:52,975
No. I can't kick what's not there.
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Should I just obey his orders,
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or run away and keep my dignity?
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Only if this was an aconite syrup...
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You don't dislike sweets, do you?
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I hope you like it.
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Honey?
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Ms. Fengming's home
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- runs a bee farm.
- Lady Lishu?
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Syrup...
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Honey.
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Apothecary?
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What are you doing to my lady-in-waiting?
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Concubine Gyokuyou, this is...
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Whose permission do you have to do that?
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Xiaomao,
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he just got carried away.
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Will you forgive Sir Jinshi?
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In that case, you should lick him
next time, Sir Gaoshun.
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Lick? Well, that's...
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Do you get it now?
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I have a few things I need to confirm.
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Excuse us.
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Welcome... Oh?
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Sir Jinshi isn't here?
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00:16:38,872 --> 00:16:41,083
No. Sorry for barging in like this.
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So? What does a Jade Pavilion attendant
need from me?
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I need to ask you something.
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You're from the garden party...
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What is it?
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Do you dislike honey?
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How do you know?
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00:17:05,733 --> 00:17:07,067
It's pretty obvious.
256
00:17:08,902 --> 00:17:12,364
Have you ever had an upset stomach
from consuming honey?
257
00:17:12,448 --> 00:17:14,825
It's common to dislike
a certain food after
258
00:17:14,908 --> 00:17:16,452
experiencing food poisoning.
259
00:17:17,536 --> 00:17:19,038
That's not what happened.
260
00:17:19,121 --> 00:17:21,832
I don't remember. I was just a baby.
261
00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:25,627
I hear my life was at risk at one point.
262
00:17:26,253 --> 00:17:29,631
My wet nurse told me never to eat it.
263
00:17:29,715 --> 00:17:33,218
You're being quite rude.
These are intrusive questions.
264
00:17:36,305 --> 00:17:39,600
You didn't even protect your lady
at the tea party. You're one to talk.
265
00:17:39,683 --> 00:17:40,768
What are those eyes?
266
00:17:40,851 --> 00:17:43,604
You don't need to listen
to an attendant like that.
267
00:17:43,687 --> 00:17:46,899
Yes. It's rude to you, Lady Lishu,
the Pure Concubine.
268
00:17:46,982 --> 00:17:48,233
You should kick her out!
269
00:17:48,317 --> 00:17:51,403
They must make outsiders
out to be the villain this way
270
00:17:51,487 --> 00:17:54,239
to make her think
they're her only friends.
271
00:17:54,907 --> 00:17:57,576
- Lady Lishu...
- A sheltered rich girl like her
272
00:17:57,659 --> 00:17:59,578
would easily get tricked.
273
00:18:00,746 --> 00:18:02,372
An isolated concubine
274
00:18:02,456 --> 00:18:04,792
must rely on her attendants.
275
00:18:04,875 --> 00:18:07,586
She doesn't even realize
she's being bullied.
276
00:18:08,504 --> 00:18:10,005
It's a vicious cycle.
277
00:18:11,924 --> 00:18:14,384
I was ordered to come here. If you have
278
00:18:14,468 --> 00:18:15,636
any complaints,
279
00:18:16,345 --> 00:18:18,514
say them directly to Sir Jinshi.
280
00:18:18,597 --> 00:18:20,557
To Sir Jinshi?
281
00:18:20,641 --> 00:18:22,184
Directly?
282
00:18:22,684 --> 00:18:25,270
I should be able to get away
with this much.
283
00:18:25,354 --> 00:18:30,234
I'm excited to think how these attendants
would approach that pervert eunuch.
284
00:18:30,818 --> 00:18:33,153
Another question for you.
285
00:18:34,822 --> 00:18:36,657
Have you ever met Ms. Fegming,
286
00:18:38,117 --> 00:18:40,452
the head lady-in-waiting
at the Garnet Pavilion?
287
00:18:55,676 --> 00:18:58,470
- Xiaomao?
- Sir Gaoshun,
288
00:18:58,554 --> 00:19:01,557
is there a way to learn about past events
in the rear palace?
289
00:19:05,269 --> 00:19:06,812
I'll look in the court archives.
290
00:19:09,231 --> 00:19:10,816
Thank you, sir.
291
00:19:16,113 --> 00:19:18,824
What did she find out this time?
292
00:19:19,491 --> 00:19:20,951
She's a clever girl.
293
00:19:21,034 --> 00:19:23,287
I can't believe that she's just 17.
294
00:19:23,370 --> 00:19:25,080
She's knowledgeable and calm.
295
00:19:25,706 --> 00:19:29,334
She thinks things through rationally,
and can process information well.
296
00:19:30,919 --> 00:19:34,882
She can be a bit strange,
but also somewhat impressive.
297
00:19:37,926 --> 00:19:39,595
Seventeen years ago,
298
00:19:39,678 --> 00:19:42,431
when the current Emperor was still
the Eastern Palace,
299
00:19:42,931 --> 00:19:44,683
he had a baby boy
300
00:19:44,766 --> 00:19:46,518
with Concubine Ah-Duo.
301
00:19:47,019 --> 00:19:48,604
The boy has since died.
302
00:19:49,521 --> 00:19:52,482
The boy was born around the same time
as the Emperor's brother,
303
00:19:52,566 --> 00:19:55,611
the child of the former Emperor
and the Empress Dowager.
304
00:19:56,486 --> 00:19:58,989
He only had that one child
as the Eastern Palace.
305
00:19:59,489 --> 00:20:01,450
His only concubine was Lady Ah-Duo.
306
00:20:02,451 --> 00:20:05,829
The current Emperor and Lady Ah-Duo
are foster siblings,
307
00:20:05,913 --> 00:20:08,832
so I get that he's attached
to Lady Ah-Duo, but...
308
00:20:09,499 --> 00:20:13,253
I can't believe that lustful old man
only had one concubine.
309
00:20:15,088 --> 00:20:19,968
The baby boy died 16 years ago.
It was investigated by...
310
00:20:20,052 --> 00:20:21,428
LUOMEN
311
00:20:25,015 --> 00:20:26,183
I had imagined
312
00:20:26,266 --> 00:20:27,935
that this might be the case.
313
00:20:28,852 --> 00:20:31,647
The medicinal herbs growing
in the rear palace
314
00:20:31,730 --> 00:20:34,775
are ones I've been using for a long time.
315
00:20:35,275 --> 00:20:37,694
Someone must have transported them here.
316
00:20:39,780 --> 00:20:43,700
A man who drags his foot
like an old woman.
317
00:20:44,868 --> 00:20:46,912
A man so skilled in medicine
that it's a waste
318
00:20:46,995 --> 00:20:48,956
he's an apothecary
in the pleasure district.
319
00:20:50,791 --> 00:20:53,585
A man with one of his knee bones removed.
320
00:20:53,669 --> 00:20:55,128
A former eunuch.
321
00:20:55,212 --> 00:20:56,463
LUOMEN
322
00:20:56,546 --> 00:20:57,881
What the hell are you doing?
323
00:20:59,675 --> 00:21:00,884
Old man?
324
00:22:35,979 --> 00:22:37,147
PREVIEW OF NEXT EPISODE
325
00:22:47,532 --> 00:22:50,035
{\an8}Next Episode, "Reducing Two to One."
326
00:22:50,118 --> 00:22:51,620
{\an8}Subtitle translation by: Yukimi Ohashi