01x13 - Serving in the Outer Court

[bunniefuu]

Are you serious?

So, what would you do?

After all, you're the gardenermaintaining my flower garden.

He truly is cunning.

How ironic.

No matter how hard I try,both in intellect and martial arts,

I can only slightlyoutperform a regular person.

Instead, I am granted an appearancemore beautiful than anyone.

The things I truly wantare so far out of reach.

I was dissatisfied at first,but I've gotten over it.

My sweet gaze, my sweet voice...

I'll use my superior tools to my advantage.

I'm aware that ultimately, I'm just a childfloundering on the emperor's palm.

As you wish.

I'll manage his rear palace,or whatever else he wants.

That's the only way I can choose my own path.

THE APOTHECARY DIARIES

VERDIGRIS HOUSE

VERDIGRIS HOUSETHIS STORY IS A WORK OF FICTION.

THIS STORY IS A WORK OF FICTION.

THIS STORY IS A WORK OF FICTION.- I don't need this much, Big Sis.

- I don't need this much, Big Sis.

- Sure, sure. Take this, this...Oh! And this, too.

- Sure, sure. Take this, this...Oh! And this, too.EPISODE : SERVING IN THE OUTER COURT

- Sure, sure. Take this, this...Oh! And this, too.

I'm not going to be using lipstick.

What do you mean? Can't you put inthe least bit of effort to look proper?

Only courtesans have to getprettied up to go to work.

I want to work with herbs...

Ow!

You've landed such a nice job at the palace!

And you're telling me you can't dress upappropriately for the position?

You have to be thankfulfor that every day.

Otherwise, you'll lose your great customers.

Meimei is really convincing.

She's old enough to start consideringretirement as a courtesan,

but her popularity hasn't waned at all,

because she has the intellect

to entertain her customersthrough song, chess, and go.

Maomao.

Wow, what a huge package.

Pairin, Joka.

I'm glad you found a goodworkplace. Go make a fortune.

Got it.

If you could bring back some payingcustomers, that would be great too!

Find some good, rich guys.

Someone with vigor, pretty please!

Uh, yeah...

VERDIGRIS HOUSE

My new workplace... Or should I say,the workplace I'm returning to,

is the area in the palacecalled the rear palace.

It's a garden of women who are thereto have children for the emperor.

- I was supposed to work hereas a lowly servant girl, but...

YOU WITH THE FRECKLES, STAY HERE- I was supposed to work hereas a lowly servant girl, but...

YOU WITH THE FRECKLES, STAY HERE- I solved the mystery of the dyinginfant heirs, which drew attention.

- I solved the mystery of the dyinginfant heirs, which drew attention.

I was promoted to lady-in-waitingfor Lady Gyokuyou,

then got sucked into varioustroubles as a food taster.

After that, a bunch of stuff happened,leading to me getting fired.

Who would've thought I'd be back again?

I succumbed to the allureof the caterpillar fungus,

but looking back, that mighthave been careless of me.

Of course, seen from the outside,it's a huge lucky break.

I do have some reservations about leavingmy dad behind to go live elsewhere for work,

but the rules are a lot less strict this time,

and I'm not treated as missing anymore.

Dad also said I should do as I like, but...

What did he mean by that, I wonder?

I'm home.

They loaded you up, didn't they?

What should I do? I definitely needmy mortar and pestle, and my notebook.

I can't bring less underwear—

Maomao, you probably can't take those with you.

Huh?

You're not a doctor.

Having such things would make you appearlike you're plotting a poisoning.

Come now, don't make that face.It was your decision to go.

You can't back out now.

Really?

You should be able to gradually getpermission to bring more things in.

Get ready and go to sleep.Tomorrow is your first day.

Fine...

Well, you haven't done this in a while.

I thought you weren't a baby anymore.

Well, it's cold.

We'll be lonely again.

Not really. This time,I can come back any time I want.

You're right. You can comehome any time you want.

I have no mother.

But I have a caring dad, a nosy old granny,

and a lively group of big sistersto keep me company.

I can come home any time.

Thank you for waiting, Master Jinshi.

Please take care of our little girl.

We got her all dolled up for you.

Don't you forget, Maomao.

I know. Good customers, right?

Good. Now go on.

What a way to start the morning.

Let's go.

Uh, yeah.

Take care.

I'm off.

She's pretty.

Have you ever seen her atthe Verdigris House before?

This is your fault, Master Jinshi.

Hmm?

I got a lot of unwanted attention.

That's because you're...

What is it?

Nothing.

Good work. May we proceed?

Yes!

Apothecary. While you're here,go back to your usual freckled face.

Huh?

Understood.

Hey, I heard the manager of the rear palace

bought out a courtesanfrom the Verdigris House.

The Verdigris House? Is that wherethe famous Three Princesses are?

The Verdigris House?

What is this guy doing?

And this is?

My house.

Huh?! Why?!

This is your new workplace.

Master Gaoshun, I was under the impressionwe were returning to the rear palace...

We fired you once already, so we can'tjust put you back in the same position.

You will be working in the outer court now.

The outer court...

Yes. The rear palace isconsidered the inner court.

The outer court lies outside of that.

There are many public offices there.I'll show you around later.

Welcome home. It must have been cold.

I am Suiren, his attendant.You must be Xiaomao.

Y-Yes.

Xiaomao?

There are two separate buildings,

one with the office and onewith the personal residence.

The area ahead is the youngmaster's room, but...

"Young master?"

You should be all right.

This room's about the same size asthe one I used at the Jade Pavilion.

If this place had a stove and a nearby well...

Still, this place seems too well-builtfor a servant girl's quarters.

Xiaomao?

Yes.

I don't intend to make you do servant labor.

Huh?

I told you, you're going towork in the outer court.

You're going to take the court lady exam.

C-Court lady exam?!

A cotton garment? That's generous.

Good morning, Lady Suiren.

Oh, good morning, Xiaomao.It's good that you wake up early.

I'll help.

It's fine, I'm almost done.

Can you just help serve?

Yes. Um, where are the other attendants?

There are none.

The office side is fine, but I couldn't letanyone handle the personal side.

The young master's food isespecially out of the question.

So, you do all of this work by yourself?

We had some new girls a few times,

but well, things happen, and they don't last.

Did they lace his food with aphrodisiacs?

Or try to steal things?

I mean, who likes findingunfamiliar underwear in their closet?

Huh?

On top of that, it was made of hair.

That sounds like a lot.

Yes, it certainly was.

Come, young master, please wake up.

It's time for breakfast.

So much wasted sex appeal...

I can see why only Master Gaoshunand Lady Suiren enter this room.

A woman who saw this would lose herself easily.

A man would pounce on him right away.

He truly has a sin-inducing air about him.

Sort of like an insect in mating season.

I wonder if I could collect this eunuch'sscent and sell it as an aphrodisiac?

If you want, I can get you a new room.

What brings this about?

I don't get it, but is this my chanceto get a stove and well?!

He needs to tell me clearlyif he wants me to understand.

I can manage the stove somehow,so for starters...

In that case, how abouta stable with a well nearby?

A stable.

Yes, a stable.

No stables.

So, shall we?

Yes, please.

Master Jinshi got left behind.

I assumed he had nothing to do, sincehe was always loitering in the rear palace,

but he's actually pretty busy.

There are many m*llitary officerson the east side of this area,

so please stay away if possible.

Understood.

The palace he showed me around was huge.

I needed more than all my fingers and toes

to count all the named buildingsand departments.

Can I learn them all?

My ability to learn about thingsI'm not interested in is below average.

This is the Director of Waters.

It's the department in charge of rivers,dams, and water utilization projects.

I see.

The rear palace had more medicinal ingredients.

My dad must have planted themwhile he worked there.

Xiaomao, when you become a court lady,the outer court will be your workplace.

Yes.

Court lady, huh?

Oh, good timing, Xiaomao.

Can you take this charcoal to the office?

Yes.

Excuse me.

So, this is Master Jinshi's office.

It's not extravagant,but everything here is top class.

How high up is our young master?

Sizing up the new girl? Not a good atmosphere.

The court ladies of the outer courtare like secretaries.

They have the right qualifications,background, and education.

They're nothing like the hodgepodgeof female officials at the rear palace.

Which explains their high self-esteem...

Hmm?

And therefore, they won't go out of theirway to clean, since that's not their job.

Just who do you think you are?

I guess they grow well when they're fed well.

Are you listening?!

Why is someone like you assigneddirectly to Master Jinshi?!

I guess staying quiet would irritate them more.

In other words, you're all jealous of me?

Watch your mouth!

Wrong choice of words.

Fine, then.

Are you implying I'm gettingspecial treatment?

There's no way that could be right.

Why would he, a heavenly maidenof a person, fall for an ugly girl like me?

Does the noble figure in yourmind have such bad taste?

Would he go out of his wayto eat meatless chicken bones,

when there are heaps of delicious abalonesand boar meat in front of him?

If that's the case, well, he musthave some interesting proclivities.

I don't really get it myself,but does he truly have "special tastes"?

I see, so it's a "special taste"—

T-That's impossible!

R-Right!

Why did he hire you, then?

This is the reason.

I just tried out some burnmedicine the other day,

so it's really messed up right now.

Stings!

That heavenly maidenhas a heavenly heart, too.

He gives a person like mea way to make a living.

Let's go.

Done and done.

"Interesting proclivities..."

Do you get harassed like that a lot?

Besides, why are you raising your left arm—

I'm off to my next cleaning duty.

Are you studying?

Sneak, sneak.

Hey!

Sneak, sneak!

Xiaomao.

Please be quiet.

And thus, the day of the exams came.

Why did you fail?

Why did you think I'd pass?

Maomao became Jinshi's personal servant.

What should we do?

What should we do, indeed?

Ow!

There shouldn't be any reasonfor you to go beyond this point.

Could you say that before you hit me?

The scent of sandalwood, mixedwith another, distinctly bitter smell.

The m*llitary, huh?

NEXT TIME

NEXT TIMEEPISODE : THE NEW PURE CONSORT- Next time: "The New Pure Consort."

NEXT TIMEEPISODE : THE NEW PURE CONSORT