01x10 - Honey

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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.

EPISODE : HONEY

EPISODE : HONEY- I heard about the servant whodrowned. It was a su1c1de!

I heard about the servantwho drowned. It was a su1c1de!

She was a servant at the Garnet Pavilion.

I heard she was the one who poisonedLady Lishu's food at the garden party...

I wonder if she did it becauseshe served Concubine Ah-Duo?

You mean, Pure Consort Ah-Duo?

Yeah. She's going to lose her titleas one of the four consorts

to be replaced by a new,younger concubine, I hear.

Concubine Ah-Duo is one year olderthan the emperor, at years old.

She had a male baby with the emperor once,back when he was still a prince, but lost him.

It's too bad, but the whole rear palacesystem is built for creating many babies.

Mother of a dead male baby.

Will the same thing happen to Lady Lihua,if she can't have another baby?

There's no guarantee that Lady Gyokuyouwill continue to have the emperor's love.

Even the most beautifulflowers wilt over time.

The flowers of the rear palace aremeaningless unless they bear fruit.

I gotta go now.

Oh. Take this, too.

They're leftovers from yesterday's tea party.

Thanks!

Enough snacks to have leftovers?Tea parties are awesome.

I'm not so sure.

A tea party is definitely a formof work for a concubine.

Maomao, help us set up!

Another one?

You're working quite hard for this one.

Obviously. This time,it's a high-ranked concubine,

the Virtuous Consort, Lady Lishu!

The politics of the rear palaceis well-represented here.

Welcome, Concubine Lishu.

Thank you.

Non-stop probing of each other's thoughts.

Is it part of the nature of being a womanto be cautious of the same sex?

To be honest, they seem more warythan when the emperor is here.

The way Lady Gyokuyou gleansinformation through polite conversation

shows how skilled of a concubine she is.

I heard she sends the informationshe gathers to her family back home.

Being a trade hub, it must beimportant to understand the times.

The taster at the garden party.

I'm glad to see she hasn't beentoo harshly punished.

I'm not going to bite her head off or anything.

The other servants aren't payingattention to their mistress at all.

That said, it doesn't seem like they'reactively harassing her, either.

If my report to Master Gaoshunwas mistaken, that's fortunate.

Do you have any issues with sweets?

I love sweets.

Great.

It's cold out, so I waswondering if you'd like this.

It's orange peels boiledin honey. It'll warm you up.

I hope you like it.

Hmm? She can't handle honey, either?

Is she being a picky eater again?

She won't even eat something served to her?

I know, right?

Lady Gyokuyou.

Oh, my. Ailan, I'm sorry.

I think this one needs tobe boiled a bit longer.

Let me get you something else.

How about hot ginger water?

Yes, that's fine.

Unfortunately, it seems likeI wasn't wrong about the bullying.

We'll clean up here.

Maomao, you can rest.

I can clean too, you know...

How was the tea party forConcubines Gyokuyou and Lishu?

I thought it was odd how thattea party happened so suddenly.

So, it was this guy's idea, after all.

They had a enjoyable time.

I'm not done with you.

Could you please let go?

Did you hear thatthe garden party poisoning

was done by the Garnet Pavilionservant who committed su1c1de?

I heard the rumors.

Do you think she really committed su1c1de?

That's not for me to determine.

Why would a common servantpoison Concubine Lishu?

I don't know.

Well then, can you go help out atthe Garnet Pavilion, starting tomorrow?

"Can" I? It's not like I have a choice.

Understood.

Mansions are painted in theirmasters' colors, figuratively speaking.

Concubine Gyokuyou'sJade Pavilion feels homey,

while Concubine Lihua'sCrystal Pavilion felt refined and noble.

The Garnet Pavilion, home to Concubine Ah-Duo,

was practical and simple,yet polished and classy.

My apologies for summoning you so suddenly.

I'm looking forward to workingwith you over the next three days.

Master Jinshi didn't tell meto do anything specific.

I guess I should just work.

These are new faces.

Fengming, who are they?

Temporary help for our big cleaning day.

I see. Thanks for the help.

Ah-Duo, the Pure Consort.

She's neither showy nor voluptuous,

but she has an androgynous,almost gallant kind of beauty.

She's really thirty-five?

If she dressed differently,she'd pass as a young civil servant.

She'd probably look better in a riding suit,instead of her skirt and dress.

Whoa, those longing stares.

Does she remind me of someone?

Lady Fengming, the head lady-in-waiting.

I expected the Pure Consort'shead lady-in-waiting

to be from an important family,

but she's surprisingly approachable.

Can you air the books out?

You can ask the eunuchsto handle the heavy items.

She really is the oldesthigh-ranking concubine.

Despite the efficient look,the mansion has a whole lot of stuff.

Similar to the Jade Pavilion, the servantsat the Garnet Pavilion are hard workers.

Certain fools who are all talkcould learn a thing or two.

Phew.

I guess that's it.

Incredible. You did this much already?

And so thorough, too. Can youhelp with the parlor, as well?

Yes.

She's friendly, observant,and praises others well.

Seems like she's skilled at handlingothers as head lady-in-waiting.

I haven't done so muchphysical labor in a while.

Good work. Thank you for your help today.

You're welcome.

Oh, I know. You'll bestaying here tonight, correct?

Follow me, please.

A sweet smell?

Please use this. It'll get cold tonight.

Thank you.

Rest well.

Master Jinshi didn't tell meto do anything specific.

But...

Is the mastermind behindthe poisoning really here?

They really are all hard workers.

Not just the ladies-in-waiting, but...

Lady Fengming! We can take care of that!

Don't worry about it.It's just something I noticed.

Lady Fengming is the leading example.

She's well past her prime,but would have made a great wife.

I wonder if she neverconsidered getting married.

Did she choose to serveConcubine Ah-Duo for life?

Strong loyalty is a possiblemotive for the poisoning.

Now that a new concubine is about to enter,

the high-ranking concubine atthe most risk is Concubine Ah-Duo.

But what if a vacancyopened up elsewhere first?

The emperor is only interestedin ripened fruit.

He doesn't visit Lady Lishu.

That's fine, given her age of fourteen,

but one could also claim she's notserving her role as concubine.

If someone were to poisonsomeone for Concubine Ah-Duo,

it wouldn't be out of the questionto target Lady Lishu.

Can someone help me out here?

Honey?

Lady Fengming's family runs an apiary.

No wonder there's so much honey here,despite it being so expensive.

That must have beenthe sweet smell from last night.

Lady Lishu?

Accompanied by just the one taster?

Why is she at the Garnet Pavilion?

Coming to think of it, at the tea party...

That's what happened at the Garnet Pavilion.

I see.

And?

That's it. No "and" or "but."

I don't know what he wants.I'm just an apothecary.

If he wants a spy,he's asking the wrong girl.

What's with his casualattitude recently, anyway?

Let's change the question, then.

If one of them could contact the outsideusing some special method,

who would that be, you think?

What a roundabout way of asking.

I suppose the only possibility would beLady Fengming, the head lady-in-waiting.

Based on what?

She had bandages around her left wrist.

Those colored text plates were wrapped ina woman's dress with burns on the sleeves.

Why would anyone make multi-colored fires?

One possibility is that it was a code.

Honestly, that gentle head lady-in-waiting

didn't seem like she waspart of a conspiracy.

But that's just my opinion.

I suppose that's acceptable.

I'm sure he knew this already,eating honey so ostentatiously.

A good child needs to be rewarded.

I r-respectfully decline.

No need to be modest.

No, thank you! Please offer it to someone else!

This guy thinks he can get away withanything because he has a pretty face!

Oh, right, that's the kind ofpervert he's always been!

Master Gaoshun!

He's getting laxatives in his food later!

Do you not like sweets?

I like spicy foods.

But you can eat this, right?

Damn it, he won't listen...

If he weren't so high up,I'd kick him in the groin...

Wait, there's nothing to kick there.

Should I just accept this as an order?Or escape to maintain my dignity?

If this was aconite syrup,I'd have just accepted it.

Do you have any issues with sweets?

I hope you like it.

Honey?

Lady Fengming's family runs an apiary.

Lady Lishu?

Syrup...

Honey.

Apothecary?

What are you doing to my lady-in-waiting?

Concubine Gyokuyou! I was just—

On whose authority are you doing this?

Xiaomao, this was just a prank gone too far.

Could you forgive Master Jinshi?

In that case, next time you can dothe licking for me, Master Gaoshun.

L-Licking? That's a bit...

Fine, you get the point.

Also, there are a few thingsI want to check on.

Excuse me.

Welcome, I—Oh?

Master Jinshi's not with you?

I'm afraid not. Apologiesfor the sudden intrusion.

So, what do you want,Jade Pavilion lady-in-waiting?

I have a question for you.

I remember you from the garden party.

What is it?

Do you dislike honey?

How did you know?!

I saw it on your face.

Did honey upset your stomach in the past?

It's common for someone to get food poisoningand have trouble with honey after that.

That's not it. I don't remember.

It was when I was a baby.

I heard it was life-threatening.

BANNED

- Since then, my nurses told me to not eat it.BANNED

Where are your manners?Probing Lady Lishu like that.

Says the lady-in-waiting who didn't eventry to protect her at the tea party.

What's with that look?

There's no need to listen to her.

That's right, she's being rude tothe Virtuous Consort. We should expel her!

So this is how they paint outsiders as thevillain to pretend they are the only allies.

- We're always looking out for Lady Lishu.

- It would be easy to trick a naive girl.- We're always looking out for Lady Lishu.

- It would be easy to trick a naive girl.- Who does she think she is?

The isolated concubine has nobodyto rely on but her ladies-in-waiting.

Not knowing she's being harassed...

It's a vicious cycle.

I am here on orders.

If you have objections, please takethem up with Master Jinshi.

To Master J-Jinshi?!

Directly?!

He owes me this much, at the very least.

Let's see what reasons they come up withto approach the pervert eunuch.

And one more thing.

Are you familiar with Lady Fengming,

head lady-in-waiting at the Garnet Pavilion?

Xiaomao?

Master Gaoshun, is thereany way I can learn about

past events that happenedin the rear palace?

I can search the court library.

Thank you.

What did she figure out this time?

She's a smart girl, especiallygiven that she's only seventeen.

Her knowledge and calm composure...

Her ability to logically think throughand deal with various issues...

She does have some peculiarities,but it's still impressive.

Seventeen years ago, whenthe current emperor was still a prince...

He had a son with Concubine Ah-Duo.

The baby's already gone, but...

He was born around the same time

as the prior emperorand empress dowager's son,

In other words, the currentemperor's little brother.

That was the only childthe emperor had as a prince,

and Lady Ah-Duo was his only concubine.

It says the current emperor andConcubine Ah-Duo are foster siblings,

so that explains his attachment to her...

But it's surprising to learn a man thatlustful only had one concubine back then.

Sixteen years ago, the baby d*ed.The baby was delivered by...

- Sixteen years ago, the baby d*ed.The baby was delivered by...DOCTOR LUOMEN

DOCTOR LUOMEN

I did have that hunch.

Several of the herbs growing in the rearpalace were the same ones I used growing up.

Someone must have transplanted them.

A man who drags his feet like an old woman.

A doctor overqualified for the positionof a pleasure district apothecary.

A former eunuch with a boneremoved from one knee.

...LUOMEN, EXPELLED...

- What were you doing,...LUOMEN, EXPELLED...

Dad?

Not just some superficial sweetness

I want more warmth than I can even use, oh

Having these selfish idealistic thoughts

I swallowed them again todaybefore putting them into words

Still in my memories,the scent of fragrant olive

The color of twilight in the city

We were laughing...

Filled with sadness,the tears welled up in my eyes

I found a glow during those days

I guess I took everything for granted

The wind was so loud I covered my ears

I gotta stop being like that

Even if I stumble over the words of love

NEXT TIME

NEXT TIMEEPISODE : REDUCING TWO TO ONE- Next time: "Reducing Two to One."

NEXT TIMEEPISODE : REDUCING TWO TO ONE