The Apothecary Diaries (薬屋のひとりごと)

ORIGINAL STORY BY NATSU HYUUGA

You mean to make Lady Lihua

eat such low-class food?

It needs to be more luxurious.

Otherwise, it won't suit Lady Lihua's taste.

It'd be a disgrace to even show Lady Lihua this food!

Does she really think Lady Lihua would approve of this?

Oh, god.

So annoying.

I didn't want to come to the Crystal Pavilion if I could help it...

It was the night that the Emperor visited the Jade Pavilion...

There is no poison.

I'll be taking my leave.

Wait.

The Emperor spoke to me for the first time.

We would like to request something from the rumored apothecary.

"Rumored?" I have a bad feeling about this.

Yes, my lord.

Concubine Lihua's condition is not good.

Can you look after her for a while?

By "look after," He means "heal her."

The Emperor's words are words from heaven.

If I refuse, I could be beheaded.

Yes, my lord.

Even so,

he doesn't need to say this in front of another concubine.

It's a reminder that the Emperor

is a whole different being than us.

Even so,

to treat someone who arrived here by the Emperor's orders this poorly...

I guess that Lady Lihua's attendants

hate me for working for Lady Gyokuyou

that much.

If you're done cleaning, hurry up and get out!

Boing!

Whatever. I'll remake it again.

Maomao, you're at the Crystal Pavilion?

Yes. I'm looking after Lady Lihua.

I see.

She's still not getting any better, huh?

The poison from the face powder is probably still in her system.

The poisonous powder, right?

That powder is now forbidden.

All the remaining powder

in the rear palace was removed by the eunuchs.

I see. That's good.

But a direct request from the Emperor! You're so amazing, Maomao!

I was really surprised!

Requesting something from a girl like me...

The palace physician must be that incompetent.

- You're going to the kitchen, right? - Yeah.

- Good luck on your cooking! - Thanks.

All right!

After studying Lady Lihua's condition,

I decided to improve upon her diet first.

First, we must remove the remaining poison in her system.

To do that, we need porridge with plenty of fiber,

and tea with a diuretic effect.

Not this. Nor this.

This one, this one, and this.

Not that one, either.

Cut it out, all right?

This isn't a place where low-class people can just come and go.

Boing!

This will take a while.

All right, next up...

This one, this one, that and this...

Didn't I tell you?

First, we have to give her something easy to digest.

She doesn't need peasant food.

A patient needs plenty of nutrients to recover.

So that's what she's always eating?

Yes, it's rich in nutrients,

but it's too heavy for a patient with a weak stomach.

If they used their head even a little, they would know.

No one's stopping them?

Lady Lihua, we have your food.

These are all your favorite foods.

Please have even a little bit.

- Lady Lihua? - What should we do?

Water, quickly!

Are you all right, Lady Lihua?

Lady Lihua, here's some water. Please drink this.

Huh?

Because a low-class person like you is in the room...

- The room has bad air! - Get out!

Boing...

I can't even get close to her like this.

All right, what should I do?

Could I at least examine her?

No need.

What if you worsen her condition?

In this state, she'll definitely get weaker and die.

Humans have to eat to live.

She probably lost the will to live after losing her son.

How long until my neck says goodbye to my body

for going against the Emperor's divine orders?

You look like you need help.

Do I look like I need help?

You do, indeed.

Sir Jinshi?

What's up with that woman?

Why her and Sir Jinshi...

Now they've got the wrong idea!

Let's go inside, shall we?

Sir Jinshi!

Going against the Emperor's wishes

goes against intelligent, beautiful women like you.

Oh my! We weren't doing anything of the sort...

Exactly. We weren't doing such things...

Women are terrifying.

Now, go.

She has the will to eat.

But she's weaker than I thought.

Maybe rice gruel will work...

Excuse me.

Her skin is the same color as before...

Are you the one applying makeup to Concubine Lihua?

Yes, I am.

I want her to stay beautiful.

That's the duty of a lady-in-waiting.

It's all for Lady Lihua.

- It's to be expected. - I see.

What are you doing?

Huh? I'm just chastising an idiot.

Ouch! Stop it! It hurts!

The poison will go through your whole body soon.

Good for you.

Now, you can be just as beautiful.

Just like the Lady Lihua you admire so much.

Her blood-drained skin, her sunken eyes,

and a body that can't even eat...

Do you even know why this was forbidden?