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WRITTEN BY HYUGA NATSU

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I can’t believe it!

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Serving anyone other than Lady Gyokuyou?!

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Even if you say that...

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After hearing something like that,

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there’s no way I can just ignore it.

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- Maomao.
- As expected.

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The task has fallen to me.

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You called for me?

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Damn.

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I got an ox bezoar and completely forgot,

12
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but during that last hunt,
I learned an outrageous secret.

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So, what is your request today?

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It seems that a ghost has been appearing
in a certain consort’s chambers.

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Oh my, how dreadful.

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Which consort is it?

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I must go visit her.

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Lady Gyokuyou,

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you mustn’t go outside in your condition.

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In that case, I shall send someone.

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You're right.

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Hongniang, how about

23
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you and Maomao go together?

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Lady Gyokuyou,
this is a confidential matter,

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so please refrain from visiting.

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With that in mind,

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may I have her back?

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If you'd like to "borrow" her,
I’ll give her to you.

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This exchange again?

30
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No, I want you to "return" her.

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Return Maomao to me.

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Once I'm done and give her to you,

33
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no matter what you ask her,

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she won’t say a word.

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I’ll make sure of that.

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Well, let’s be on our way.

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You two...
Did something happen during the hunt?

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It's because of a frog.

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A frog?

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Considering the secret
I have to take to my grave,

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maybe the ox bezoar wasn't worth it.

42
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We've been expecting you.

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Just how much does Lord Gaoshun know?

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Or perhaps, he is also not a eunuch?

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Never mind.
Thinking about it won’t change anything.

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Good day, Lady Lishu.

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Lord Jinshi!

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Could you guide us to

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the bathhouse where the ghost was seen?

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Yes.

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Aren't they being a little too obvious?

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For a high-ranking consort,
this is quite concerning.

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This way.

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The changing room is in the front,
and the bath is in the back.

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But Lady Lishu saw the strange shadow

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from this storage room window.

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What kind of shadow did you see?

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W-Well...

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Are you still going on about that?

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Making such a fuss over something trivial.

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It is

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a head lady-in-waiting’s duty
to correct such behavior.

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Or do former food tasters

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not even understand that?

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My apologies.

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Judging by her tone,

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that arrogant attendant
must be the former head lady-in-waiting.

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Losing her position to the food taster

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must have left her bitter enough
to spew sarcasm daily.

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That hairpin...?

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Don’t you agree?

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Perhaps.

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However, listening to the consorts
is also my duty.

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Could you refrain from taking over my job?

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Understood.

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I feel a bit thirsty.

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I’ll bring tea at once!

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- I will!
- No, let me!

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Let me!

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Now then, Lady Lishu,

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please tell me in detail.

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Y... Yes.

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He sent everyone away to make sure
Lady Lishu doesn’t shrink back.

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It happened after my usual bath.

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I actually prefer lukewarm water,

86
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but the maids always prepare hot baths,

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Could there have been someone nearby?

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No. Kanan was the only one close by.

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She saw the same ghost too!

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When I tried to get closer to identify it...

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The ghost vanished,

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and the curtain suddenly stopped moving.

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The windows leading outside were all shut,

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so there was no wind.

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And yet, the curtain swayed.

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No wonder they were frightened
and believed it was a ghost.

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But this layout is odd.

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In the Crystal and Jade Pavilion,

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the bathhouses are separate structures

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with lounging areas.

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Who builds a storage room
next to a bathhouse?

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Was that room originally a storage room?

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No, it wasn't...

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- Then why did they turn it into storage?
- That's because...

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If you look here, you’ll understand.

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I see.

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It’s covered in mold.

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The maids of the Jade Pavilion

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would have investigated

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and prevented mold from forming,

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but expecting that the maids here
would do the same is unrealistic.

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In the end, they turned it into
a storage room to cover it up.

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It's possible that the foundation
itself might be rotting.

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Is this building older than the others?

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No, it’s actually newer.

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It was built when Lady Lishu
entered the palace.

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It’s in this state after just a few years?

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Lady Lishu mentioned the curtain moving.

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Show me the bath.

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There it is.

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This hole should lead

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to the waterway of the rear palace.

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- Lady Lishu.
- Oh?

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On the day the ghost appeared,

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did you, by any chance,
accidentally drain the bathwater?

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How did you know?

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I knew it!

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Sealed windows,

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swaying curtains,

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and a drained bathtub.

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If my deduction is correct,

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the dancing ghost is...

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Lord Gaoshun,

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could you help me move this shelf?

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Certainly.

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This is terrible.

137
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Yes, it's rotting badly.

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The floor is warped and creating gaps.

139
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That would mean...

140
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Could we check if there's
a water channel beneath here?

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I'll prepare the architectural plans
immediately.

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- Here they are.
- Thank you.

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As I suspected, there’s
a water channel beneath this floor.

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If hot water flows under here,

145
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the steam would cause the floor
and walls to rot more easily.

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And the steam

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rising through these gaps
would create airflow,

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making the curtains sway.

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Then... what was that face I saw?

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Ah, that.

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Um, that is...

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That mirror is

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important to me.
Please handle it with care.

154
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Understood. How long has this been here?

155
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I used to use it often.

156
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But now I have the mirror
that was sent by the envoy.

157
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It’s understandable that
she put her old mirror away. Even so...

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Do you polish this every day?

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Yes, it was my mother’s.

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At a glance,
it looks like an ordinary bronze mirror...

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Lady Lishu,

162
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since we have the mirror here,
how about using it again?

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Please, go ahead.

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Use it...?

165
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It’s easier to see
if you use it in a bright spot.

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If you angle it this way,
you might get a clearer reflection.

167
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I see, so that’s how it appears.

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What does this mean?

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It’s called a "magic mirror."

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This is my first time seeing a real one.

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A magic mirror?

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It’s also known as
a "transmission mirror."

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When light bounces off it,

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it mysteriously forms images or text.

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The technique involves engraving patterns
into the mirror’s surface

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during its creation.

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It requires considerable craftsmanship,

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something my foster father once told me.

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A polished mirror catches the moonlight,

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reflecting a face.

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Steam rises through the gaps,

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making the curtain sway.

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In conclusion, a series of coincidences

184
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created this "ghost."

185
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That face... It looks like my late mother.

186
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Maybe she was angry

187
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because I stopped using her mirror.

188
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Maybe that’s why she appeared.

189
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It was just a coincidence.

190
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I heard that she loved to dance.

191
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But after giving birth to me,
she fell ill and could no longer dance.

192
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And then she passed away.

193
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Maybe she became a ghost
so she could dance again.

194
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Ghosts don't--

195
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At her age,

196
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she should be able to
enjoy life more freely.

197
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But polishing her mother’s mirror
every day

198
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might have been her way
of finding solace in the palace.

199
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I don’t understand
what it’s like to long for one’s mother.

200
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But to Lady Lishu,

201
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her mother must have been someone
worth cherishing.

202
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We've prepared tea outside.

203
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Lady Lishu, why are you crying?

204
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It’s improper to show such emotion
in front of everyone.

205
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She speaks as if she’s a devoted maid,

206
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but her true nature seeps through.

207
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Such an obvious act.

208
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You still have it?

209
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The envoy gifted you a far superior one,

210
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so you don’t need this anymore.

211
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- Why not bestow it upon someone else?
- Give it...

212
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Pardon?

213
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What is wrong with you!

214
00:13:34,521 --> 00:13:37,023
Such disgraceful behavior
in front of guests!

215
00:13:37,107 --> 00:13:40,277
That is something very precious
to Lady Lishu.

216
00:13:40,902 --> 00:13:44,531
Taking it without proper consideration
seems inappropriate.

217
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Was this item bestowed upon you?

218
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Even if it was,

219
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for a mere maid to wear an ornament

220
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bearing the crest
of a high-ranking consort...

221
00:14:08,138 --> 00:14:10,724
did you not find that inappropriate?

222
00:14:12,976 --> 00:14:15,437
Lord Jinshi must have
known that Lady Lishu

223
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was being disregarded by her maids.

224
00:14:18,231 --> 00:14:19,983
He kept quiet

225
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to preserve her dignity.

226
00:14:23,278 --> 00:14:27,073
But with physical evidence,
he can finally put them in their place.

227
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From now on, refrain from actions
that exceed your position.

228
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He's terrifying.

229
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- Isn't that him?
- So charming!

230
00:14:53,933 --> 00:14:56,728
Here to peek at the newcomers again?

231
00:14:58,313 --> 00:15:01,358
Yeah, yeah. I get it, Maomao.

232
00:15:02,776 --> 00:15:06,905
Young lady, are you researching more
anesthetic-like medicines again?

233
00:15:06,988 --> 00:15:07,906
Yes.

234
00:15:07,989 --> 00:15:11,785
They don’t make new eunuchs anymore,
so there’s no need to investigate that.

235
00:15:12,494 --> 00:15:16,247
By the way,
how do eunuchs enter the rear palace?

236
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Through surgery.

237
00:15:18,375 --> 00:15:19,501
No, I mean,

238
00:15:19,584 --> 00:15:22,504
how do they prove they’re eunuchs?

239
00:15:23,713 --> 00:15:26,424
In the past, a certificate was enough,

240
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but due to fraud,

241
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now they undergo a physical examination.

242
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They grab it?

243
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You’re too blunt, young lady!

244
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To prevent fraud,

245
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three officials from different departments
conduct the examination,

246
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and if nothing is there,
they’re allowed in.

247
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Are they only checked one time?

248
00:15:44,442 --> 00:15:47,028
They check every time they enter and exit.

249
00:15:47,612 --> 00:15:48,947
Only the Emperor

250
00:15:49,030 --> 00:15:52,492
and his blood relatives can enter
the rear palace without being eunuchs.

251
00:15:52,992 --> 00:15:55,412
Does that mean Lord Jinshi is...

252
00:15:55,495 --> 00:15:57,539
No, that can’t be.

253
00:15:58,123 --> 00:15:59,290
Speaking of eunuchs,

254
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have you heard about the new recruits?

255
00:16:03,795 --> 00:16:06,339
Xiaolan and Shisui mentioned it.

256
00:16:06,423 --> 00:16:10,385
I've heard rumors,
about 30 of them entered, right?

257
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Exactly!

258
00:16:12,178 --> 00:16:15,890
Many of them are young and good-looking,
so everyone's excited!

259
00:16:16,516 --> 00:16:18,810
The other day,
one of them got tangled up with

260
00:16:18,893 --> 00:16:22,355
a lower-ranked consort while preparing
the bath. It was quite the scene!

261
00:16:22,439 --> 00:16:24,858
He actually went to check them out?

262
00:16:25,692 --> 00:16:27,610
When exactly do you plan to tell her?

263
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Eventually.

264
00:16:29,654 --> 00:16:33,449
Your attitude is
so obvious, it's unnatural.

265
00:16:33,950 --> 00:16:37,453
Even Maomao looked at you
like you were a dried-up worm.

266
00:16:38,913 --> 00:16:40,832
Shut up. I know.

267
00:16:41,791 --> 00:16:45,503
If you don’t decide soon,
things will get messy.

268
00:16:45,587 --> 00:16:48,882
You want me to bring her over
to our side immediately, right?

269
00:16:48,965 --> 00:16:51,676
But the strategist will intervene.

270
00:16:51,759 --> 00:16:54,220
Fight poison with poison.

271
00:16:56,264 --> 00:16:58,308
Dai Kan Lakan.

272
00:16:58,391 --> 00:17:01,519
A man who took his family’s estate from
his biological father and half-brother

273
00:17:01,603 --> 00:17:03,396
years ago,
becoming the head of the Luo clan.

274
00:17:04,147 --> 00:17:06,649
Even the emperor acknowledges him.

275
00:17:07,609 --> 00:17:09,611
Despite holding the rank
of Grand Commandant,

276
00:17:09,694 --> 00:17:13,239
he remains unaffiliated with any faction,
deftly avoiding entanglements.

277
00:17:14,073 --> 00:17:16,451
Many have tried to strike him down,

278
00:17:16,534 --> 00:17:20,413
but those who dared
suffered far worse than just burns.

279
00:17:21,748 --> 00:17:23,750
No one understands

280
00:17:23,833 --> 00:17:25,668
what goes on inside his head.

281
00:17:26,210 --> 00:17:27,754
The unspoken rule in court

282
00:17:27,837 --> 00:17:30,757
is to avoid him.

283
00:17:31,424 --> 00:17:34,719
But if I plan to bring Maomao in,

284
00:17:34,802 --> 00:17:36,679
I can’t ignore this.

285
00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:39,682
I want to tell her the truth.

286
00:17:39,766 --> 00:17:41,684
Why I hold this position,

287
00:17:41,768 --> 00:17:44,270
and why I hide my true identity.

288
00:17:44,354 --> 00:17:45,772
I want her to know.

289
00:17:46,397 --> 00:17:48,942
But after that, how will she react?

290
00:17:52,987 --> 00:17:56,449
Another rear palace complaint?
Why so many?

291
00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:00,411
Half of them are concerning
Consort Loulan.

292
00:18:00,495 --> 00:18:02,121
They say that
she has too many palace women,

293
00:18:02,205 --> 00:18:05,541
her excessive use of elaborate outfits
is ruining the rear palace's aesthetics,

294
00:18:05,625 --> 00:18:07,043
and so on.

295
00:18:07,126 --> 00:18:09,003
Same complaints as always.

296
00:18:09,545 --> 00:18:12,632
This one is new, though.

297
00:18:15,301 --> 00:18:18,805
"Palace women are
flirting with the new eunuch."

298
00:18:19,639 --> 00:18:21,599
I could’ve guessed.

299
00:18:21,683 --> 00:18:24,936
Yes, we’ve assigned them
to physical labor for now.

300
00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:29,148
We’ll eventually transfer them to
suitable departments based on aptitude,

301
00:18:29,232 --> 00:18:32,193
but they were originally slaves
captured by foreign tribes.

302
00:18:32,694 --> 00:18:34,445
We need to be cautious.

303
00:18:35,988 --> 00:18:39,450
I suppose we should take a look
at least for formality’s sake.

304
00:18:39,534 --> 00:18:40,910
Yes.

305
00:18:40,993 --> 00:18:44,080
- What a hassle.
- Let's just do it.

306
00:18:46,207 --> 00:18:48,292
The ones with white sashes
are the new eunuchs.

307
00:18:49,168 --> 00:18:51,671
They’re thin and seem nervous.

308
00:18:52,672 --> 00:18:55,383
Even after gaining freedom,

309
00:18:55,466 --> 00:18:59,053
former slaves struggle
to live like ordinary citizens.

310
00:18:59,137 --> 00:19:02,724
In some ways,
the rear palace is a suitable refuge.

311
00:19:07,145 --> 00:19:08,604
So that’s the infamous new eunuch, huh?

312
00:19:09,230 --> 00:19:11,524
What happened to his left arm?

313
00:19:11,607 --> 00:19:13,568
He was severely beaten,

314
00:19:13,651 --> 00:19:16,571
leaving his left side partially numb.

315
00:19:17,071 --> 00:19:20,408
His body is covered in scars,
and he refuses to show his skin.

316
00:19:20,491 --> 00:19:21,409
I see.

317
00:19:23,286 --> 00:19:25,580
He’s quite popular, though.

318
00:19:25,663 --> 00:19:27,957
Yes, he’s smart

319
00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:30,251
and knows how to handle
the palace women well.

320
00:19:32,211 --> 00:19:35,465
- What?
- Like you can talk.

321
00:19:44,807 --> 00:19:48,060
- How are the new recruits?
- Lord Jinshi!

322
00:19:52,231 --> 00:19:53,941
They must still be adjusting, but in time,

323
00:19:54,025 --> 00:19:57,403
they’ll be assigned appropriate duties.
Be patient.

324
00:20:00,656 --> 00:20:03,951
What do we do?! That was ice

325
00:20:04,035 --> 00:20:06,078
meant for a high-ranking consort!

326
00:20:07,955 --> 00:20:11,167
Damn it! I’m done for!

327
00:20:14,545 --> 00:20:16,005
I’m so sorry...