The Apothecary Diaries (薬屋のひとりごと)

THE APOTHECARY DIARIES

THIS STORY IS A WORK OF FICTION.

THE NAMES OF ALL OF THE CHARACTERS,

ORGANIZATIONS, AND SO ON ARE IMAGINARY.

- It's authentic? - Of course!

You've only gotten prettier.

- - You.

Uh?

EPISODE 25 MAOMAO AND MAOMAO

So many books. What's with this huge pile?

Maomao's order, it seems.

Another?

This is what we call good business,

so just go deliver it like you've been instructed.

Understood.

They're quite lovely.

I think I'll keep some in my room.

Is everything well?

Oh. Yes!

After the garden party,

Master Shishou asked for more ladies-in-waiting for her.

Still, though. This is a bit much.

I know.

It's not a particularly good look

for the other mistresses.

Concubine Loulan.

Greetings.

It would seem you're looking for something.

Pardon me.

Maomao is helping over at the clinic.

Spring has arrived.

What are you up to now?

Why are you asking like that?

I'm making scented oils.

While cleaning up the clinic,

I found a distillation apparatus.

I'm using leftover blooms

from the blue roses we grew the other day.

It's quite pungent.

It would be even more pungent with wild roses.

So, what is it this time?

Who wouldn't be curious,

considering the stench coming from in here?

I take it that's why you're working here

and not the Jade Pavillion.

Well, yes, there is that.

And some scented oils have been known

to cause miscarriages.

Typically, that's only if they're highly concentrated,

but still...

There's no need to restrict perfumes

and other aromatics in the rear palace, though?

Right. I think it should be fine.

That quack's a nice guy,

but can't keep his mouth shut.

We can't let him know

about Concubine Gyokuyou's pregnancy.

- And this? - Huh?

I'm distilling alcohol.

By repeating the process enough times,

I can make sure it's rather strong.

Ew! It's poison!

Disinfectant.

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

since we have a small princess living there.

You're able to do that?

Just take a cloth and let it soak in.

Then you can wipe surfaces clean,

among other things.

You're very knowledgeable.

I had heard that's what they do in the West.

Right. Your adoptive father studied in...

We have brought your package.

- - Hm?

- - That is quite the delivery.

Yes. The little lady thought that...

You know what?

Why don't I put on some tea while you two have a seat!

Let's see what's inside.

This is a package from my family back home

and contains nothing of consequence!

Oh? All the way back home?

All right. Alternate plan.

I was trying to spare you,

but my undergarments are inside.

Uh...

Oh. I'm sorry.

- - Question.

Precisely what are these undergarments composed of

that requires two men to carry them?

- - Huh?!

The rear palace has a problem.

The women here are expected to be excessively innocent

in matters of sex.

A majority of the ladies-in-waiting

here are virgins.

So, if the Emperor finds one to his liking,

what will happen to her

when she fails to perform for him

due to her ignorance?

They should be educated beforehand.

So then...

that's why you brought these in?

Books, like the ones from...

Well... you know.

All that effort to keep them

out of Lady Hongniang's sight only to still get caught.

I used to order them for the Emperor,

who's a big fan.

But I wanted to increase the order to get more business.

What bad timing.

Hmm. Hm.

- Huh? - Fascinating.

They're very well constructed.

The paper is high quality.

Seriously?

And here I was thinking maybe he was a secret pervert.

These books are sometimes given to new brides

as wedding presents.

And even if they're unable to read,

the pictures make the books very popular.

Are these prints?

Technically, these are made using metal plates

instead of traditional woodblocks.

How impressive.

Right? In fact, it's so impressive,

I wanted as many people to see it as possible.

That is a separate issue entirely.

If you find it to your liking,

perhaps you should keep one?

Now, I don't think that that would be very appropriate!

I suppose I can let you off with a warning this time.

You mean it?

But first, tell me which shop you purchased these from.

- Hmm. - Hmm.

It's not like that!

I want to learn more about their printing techniques!

- Mm-hmm. - Uh!

No. I'm sure that's the reason.

I'll write it down.

Uh-huh!

Xiaomao.

What is it?

Perhaps some of these more explicit ones

need to be censored first.

Are you sure you want to do that

when the Emperor said the previous ones

weren't exciting enough?

I'm sure.

And after I asked Granny to do all that work

picking out the best ones.

Oh.

What is it I seek?

Tell me.

Buried beneath those beautiful flowers?

Well? What do you think could be underneath them?

Hmm.

- Horse dung. -

- - You shouldn't eat so quickly.

That was all your fault!

I was quoting from that novel that's a huge deal right now!

I didn't know you could read, Xiaolan.

Nope, sure can't!

But one of the other girls is

reading it out loud for everyone!

I can't wait to hear what happens next!

If even the illiterate servant girls

all know the plot of the book,

it must be popular.

- Hm. - Hmm?

I'm back.

What is that?

Some books the Emperor handed out

to all of his concubines.

He had said after they were finished reading,