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WRITTEN BY HYUGA NATSU

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Here it is.

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THIS STORY IS A FICTION AND ALL NAMES OF
FIGURES AND ORGANIZATIONS ARE FICTITIOUS.

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MOREOVER, THE STORY HAS NO RELATION
TO REAL-LIFE INCIDENTS AND EVENTS.

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Do you not wear a hairpin?

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Go wear that then.

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I promised him,

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so I guess I have no choice.

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MAOMAO

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Take a look, Mr. Luomen.

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This kitty is smart.

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When she eats fish,
she leaves the head, tail and innards.

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I personally enjoy
the bitter taste of those parts.

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I was taught never to waste food,

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but I can't believe
he would eat the leftovers of a cat.

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He hears one thing and understands ten.

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I believe he is
the most skilled doctor in this county.

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The reason he is living a poor life
in the Pleasure District is because

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he has no greed or ambition.

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Miss, what are you making over there?

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I'm preparing mugwort for
Lady Gyokuyou's moxibustion treatment.

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Maomao,

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ask Mr. Guen for his permission first.

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Okay...

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Are you going to be writing today?

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Yes, since I have no duties at the moment.

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The reason my old man was not assigned
to the Jade Pavilion,

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but to the medical office,

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was likely
through Lord Jinshi's consideration.

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It's Lady Lihua.

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For that to happen,
a safe delivery must take place.

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If my old man can assist both consorts,

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it would be a relief.

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By the way, I heard some new maids

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have entered the Crystal Pavilion.

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You know, since the head
lady-in-waiting we met before resigned.

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I heard most of the new maids are older,

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and the atmosphere in the palace
has calmed down all of a sudden.

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It's good to have more experienced maids.

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The rear palace is full of
young palace women,

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but there are hardly any older ones.

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But it's currently not doing that.

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If you think about how many children

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the current emperor has,
it's clear that there's a problem.

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I'm sure my old man

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has already realized it by now.

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I think I'm done.

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What is it?

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It's a list of concerns I have
regarding the rear palace.

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Let me see.

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Mr. Luomen,
you have beautiful handwriting.

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That's what caught your attention?

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But these sentences sound a bit childish.

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Don't you think your sentences
could use more weight?

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It's fine as it is.

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There are still those here
who can only understand

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simple words and sentences.

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I see. He wants the attendants and maids
to be able to read this.

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Do you think I missed anything?

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It seems good.

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Mr. Guen,

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does your family home have paper
about this size?

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That size would be considered scrap,

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so we would turn it into pulp
and make new paper instead.

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If that's the case, could you sell those
to me at a lower price?

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I think I can.

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Maomao, I heard that the institute of
practical studies was opened recently.

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Then, could you ask them
if they can use this

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to practice writing?

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So, he wants to mass-produce these
with the students' help?

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I'll try to ask.

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Thank you.

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He doesn't waste people or resources.

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He uses everything he can,
just like a merchant.

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Yet, why does he not use that ability to
enhance his own life?

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I've finished preparing the mugwort,
so I will be leaving.

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Could I take some alcohol to
the Jade Pavilion for disinfecting?

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Go ahead.

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Also, is there anything
for relieving fatigue?

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Lady Gyokuyou has been saying
she gets tired easily.

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Hey, my clothes will rip.

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What's wrong, Maomao? Why are you crying?

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Is it this?

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This is not for you.

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All right, what should I do first?

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Should I go to the institute
of practical studies?

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If I have it go through Lord Jinshi,

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it'll probably take time.

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I have this with me just in case...

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But the last time I wore this...

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Isn't that the hairpin you got
from Lord Jinshi at the garden party?

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Why are you wearing it all of a sudden?

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I'll wear it later.

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This is... Luomen's handwriting.

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You can tell?

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Back when we were doing
our civil service examination,

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people said that you would pass

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if you wrote like him.

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So we all copied his handwriting.

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He had the skills
to become a great civil servant,

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but feeling sorry and wanting to help

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the sick homeless children,

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he chose to become a physician.

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Actually, right now,
he's back in the rear palace.

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Oh. I didn't know that.

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Is Xiolan not with you today?

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Recently, she's been preoccupied with work

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and the rumors of the new eunuch.

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She doesn't have extra time.

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A young eunuch, huh?

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I know there's
not much excitement around here,

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but making a fuss over them
is a bit excessive.

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What do you mean by that?

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At first, the eunuchs

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were placed in the southern area.

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But the palace women
began to neglect their duties.

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That's why some eunuchs were sent
to the northern area.

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The palace women at the clinic

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are saying that
the eunuchs are quite helpful.

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The clinic, huh?

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I bet Shenlü is making good use of
the young eunuchs.

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Anyways, what can I do for you today?

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Oh, yes.

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I was wondering
if you could ask the students

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to use this letter that my old man wrote
to practice writing?

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We will provide the paper.

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I see. You want them to write copies.

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- So you can distribute them, right?
- Yes.

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A long time ago,
I wrote something similar.

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At first, Luomen was writing by himself,

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so I felt I had to help him.

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We wrote papers together

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to post all over the rear palace.

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He's grown older now,

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so he's finally learned
how to make use of people.

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Have you written and posted
something similar to this before?

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Yes, when Luomen was a physician.

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So I believe it was over 20 years ago.

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I remember we posted it
all over the rear palace.

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"Don't use face powder that contains lead.

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Avoid strong perfumes.

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Don't pick palace plants
without permission."

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What's written is pretty much
the same from back then.

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He posted something similar to this?

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What is this bad feeling I have?

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I will bring you the paper later.

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My old man must have posted it
out of concern for the women.

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But such notices also risked
giving malicious people

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bad ideas.

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The palace staff turns over

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almost entirely every two years.

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Even the consorts were replaced
after the late emperor's death.

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Who would still remember
the old notice from back then?

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That is...

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Excuse me.

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Oh.

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You're from the Jade Pavilion.

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Ms. Shenlü.

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- Are you sick?
- Um... no.

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How should I bring it up?

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Oh, I brought you some alcohol.

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It's distilled and stronger,

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so I think it will be a good disinfectant.

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I can really have this?

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Yes, I made extra.

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Thank you. Let me prepare some tea.

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By the way, everyone working here is

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quite competent, aren't they?

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What do you mean by that?

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The typical work duration for palace women
in the rear palace is about two years,

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but most of the people here
have worked longer than that.

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Well, we're a bunch of old women.

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If they entered in their teens or
twenties, they've been here over 20 years.

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Is there a reason
they cannot leave the rear palace?

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We were young when we first entered.

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I entered the rear palace
when I was ten years old.

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The other women were around that age too.

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In the current rear palace,

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such a young girl is not allowed
to work in the palace.

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But in the previous emperor's era...

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The late emperor would choose young girls,

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not yet of age, and steal their innocence.

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The ones he defiled

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weren't even allowed to leave.

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Once they've slept with the emperor,

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they cannot leave the rear palace,
even if they're ordinary palace women.

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Nobody took us in.

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Not now, not ever.

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Oh, now I see.

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Towards the rear palace, the emperor,

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and the consorts who were
favored by the emperor...

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This is where their malice festered.

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Previously Shenlü

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asked me to check on a maid who had
fallen ill at the Crystal Pavilion,

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as she was deeply worried about her.

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At that time, I thought
she was an attentive person.

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But perhaps...

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Maybe it was Shenlü who taught Lady Shin,

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the head lady-in-waiting
of the Crystal Pavilion,

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how to make the abortion medicine.

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Although not directly,

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what if she used that bedridden maid
to do so?

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I can't stop coughing.

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Let me take a look.

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Is it contagious?

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Is there something concerning?

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I don't want to get Lady Lihua sick.

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She may be pregnant.

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Oh...

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Give this to Shin,
the head lady-in-waiting.

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What is it?

212
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A list of things to avoid
during a pregnancy.

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If you combine some of those things,
it can become an abortion medicine.

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I'm sure it will be useful for Lady Lihua.

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The things to avoid also teach

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what poison is
to those with ill intentions.

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That's when the caravan came,

218
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and the ingredients on the list
happened to be sold.

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There's no way
she would miss this opportunity.

220
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Why were such ingredients being sold?

221
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Maybe some palace women at the clinic

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were telling the sellers that
they wanted a certain perfume.

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We can't say for sure that the clinic
was involved with all the incidents.

224
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But this slow, creeping malice,

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short of outright murder, must have
been eating away at the rear palace

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for some time now.

227
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Should I press her further?

228
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Is something the matter?

229
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It's nothing.

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Oh, okay then.

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I'll stop for now.

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I don't have any proof or any witnesses.

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I don't want to make vague accusations.

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This is the only place
where the sick palace women

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can feel safe.
I don't want to take that away from them.

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The only thing I can do is

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prevent this malice from spreading.

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Um...

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Thank you. I will be taking my leave.

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If there are any books you'd like
to borrow, please go ahead.

241
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But just don't forget to return them.

242
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There are so many books.

243
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For some reason, the number of books
on that shelf seems to be increasing.

244
00:12:52,562 --> 00:12:54,481
It would be fine if they just return it.

245
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This is quite
an impressive insect encyclopedia.

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Someone left that on the bookshelf too.

247
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Maybe a month ago.

248
00:13:07,536 --> 00:13:08,870
This is...

249
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If it was one month ago, that would've
been after the envoy's banquet.

250
00:13:13,083 --> 00:13:14,292
Come to think of it...

251
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This place is amazing!

252
00:13:16,628 --> 00:13:19,214
It's full of insects
from the encyclopedia!

253
00:13:19,798 --> 00:13:22,968
Did Shisui leave this encyclopedia here?

254
00:13:23,552 --> 00:13:27,472
But could a mere maid own
such an impressive book?

255
00:13:29,182 --> 00:13:31,601
Thinking back,
when Shisui was drawing insects,

256
00:13:31,685 --> 00:13:34,062
she was using a paper notebook.

257
00:13:34,146 --> 00:13:35,856
Plus, she was able to read.

258
00:13:36,565 --> 00:13:38,483
Why is she working as a maid then?

259
00:13:40,527 --> 00:13:43,947
Shenlü, be careful of that girl.

260
00:13:44,030 --> 00:13:46,449
It's a high-pitched voice for a man.

261
00:13:46,533 --> 00:13:48,952
But a deep voice for a woman.

262
00:13:49,035 --> 00:13:51,454
He's short for a man.

263
00:13:52,330 --> 00:13:54,207
But tall for a woman.

264
00:13:55,000 --> 00:14:00,714
She's handsome enough to make
the ladies squeal...

265
00:14:02,799 --> 00:14:04,801
It's Suirei.

266
00:14:06,636 --> 00:14:09,139
Shenlü, she has managed to
see through what you have done

267
00:14:09,222 --> 00:14:10,891
from your conversation.

268
00:14:13,101 --> 00:14:14,895
She's sharp as usual.

269
00:14:15,478 --> 00:14:18,023
Because of her,
I couldn't become a dead body.

270
00:14:18,106 --> 00:14:20,108
Should I scream?

271
00:14:20,191 --> 00:14:22,819
Or should I throw a bottle of alcohol
at her and make a run for it?

272
00:14:22,903 --> 00:14:26,197
Don't think about doing anything stupid.
I'll hurt you if you move.

273
00:14:26,281 --> 00:14:30,076
If you kill me here,
you'll be caught right away.

274
00:14:30,702 --> 00:14:32,621
I'd like to settle this peacefully.

275
00:14:35,373 --> 00:14:37,542
Is it an aftereffect
of the revival medicine?

276
00:14:38,877 --> 00:14:40,962
After the assassination attempt
at the mid festival,

277
00:14:41,046 --> 00:14:43,673
you "died" by drinking poison.

278
00:14:43,757 --> 00:14:45,800
You made it look that way.

279
00:14:46,551 --> 00:14:49,721
The medicine only put you
in a temporary death-like state,

280
00:14:49,804 --> 00:14:51,473
but there are lingering effects.

281
00:14:52,182 --> 00:14:53,433
So, what?

282
00:14:53,516 --> 00:14:55,644
Let me tell you what I want.

283
00:14:56,227 --> 00:14:57,437
Do you think I will listen?

284
00:14:57,520 --> 00:14:58,647
You have no other choice.

285
00:15:01,149 --> 00:15:02,692
Shisui!

286
00:15:02,776 --> 00:15:05,445
So she was the owner
of that insect encyclopedia.

287
00:15:06,321 --> 00:15:07,822
Sorry, Maomao...

288
00:15:07,906 --> 00:15:10,450
Do you not care what happens to her?

289
00:15:11,409 --> 00:15:12,869
What do you want me to do?

290
00:15:12,952 --> 00:15:15,413
I want you to leave
the rear palace with me.

291
00:15:15,497 --> 00:15:18,458
Leave the rear palace?
That's not possible...

292
00:15:18,541 --> 00:15:20,710
It is. And...

293
00:15:20,794 --> 00:15:23,129
I know that you will come with me.

294
00:15:25,799 --> 00:15:27,467
Don't you want to know

295
00:15:28,134 --> 00:15:30,095
how to make the revival medicine?

296
00:15:33,682 --> 00:15:36,059
What is she saying?

297
00:15:37,143 --> 00:15:39,813
As I thought, Suirei is dangerous.

298
00:15:44,025 --> 00:15:47,821
There are two beasts in the palace.
One to the East and one to the West.

299
00:15:47,904 --> 00:15:51,241
The military resides in the East,
so one beast is a military officer.

300
00:15:51,950 --> 00:15:54,953
The West represents the civil officials,
so the other beast is one of them.

301
00:15:55,745 --> 00:15:57,622
In other words, the grand commandant.

302
00:15:57,705 --> 00:16:01,376
The high-ranking military officer Lakan
is the fox of the East.

303
00:16:01,459 --> 00:16:03,670
A prominent figure since the days
of the former leader

304
00:16:03,753 --> 00:16:05,880
is Shishou, who governs Shihoku-shu.

305
00:16:05,964 --> 00:16:07,966
He is the raccoon dog of the West.

306
00:16:08,633 --> 00:16:09,717
What has brought you here?

307
00:16:10,301 --> 00:16:11,845
Oh, nothing special.

308
00:16:11,928 --> 00:16:15,765
It's been a month since the Emperor's
younger brother attended the court council

309
00:16:15,849 --> 00:16:18,393
so I was thinking
we could have tea after this.

310
00:16:19,018 --> 00:16:20,645
It's a great opportunity,

311
00:16:20,728 --> 00:16:23,481
so why not join me, Sir Shishou?

312
00:16:24,732 --> 00:16:25,900
Me?

313
00:16:26,693 --> 00:16:30,071
Although I don't have
any interesting stories to share.

314
00:16:32,574 --> 00:16:34,784
He says he will join.

315
00:16:34,868 --> 00:16:38,746
All right.
Let's head to the courtyard then.

316
00:16:40,331 --> 00:16:43,751
What beautiful autumn weather.

317
00:16:44,544 --> 00:16:46,296
I have them served in silver cups,

318
00:16:46,379 --> 00:16:49,007
so there is no need for a food taster.

319
00:16:56,973 --> 00:16:58,641
He says it tastes delicious.

320
00:17:00,602 --> 00:17:04,105
Lakan, is there something
you would like to discuss?

321
00:17:04,772 --> 00:17:06,941
The other day, there was
an attempted assassination

322
00:17:07,025 --> 00:17:09,736
of the Emperor's younger brother
in Shihoku-shu, wasn't there?

323
00:17:09,819 --> 00:17:14,073
During that investigation,
we got our hands on something interesting.

324
00:17:15,658 --> 00:17:18,328
A design for a feifa?!

325
00:17:19,078 --> 00:17:23,041
Do you have any idea what this is,
Lord Shishou?

326
00:17:24,500 --> 00:17:26,377
What is this?

327
00:17:26,961 --> 00:17:29,797
It's the weapon that
the culprits were carrying.

328
00:17:29,881 --> 00:17:31,090
Isn't that right?

329
00:17:33,343 --> 00:17:35,345
Excuse me, please continue.

330
00:17:35,970 --> 00:17:39,682
This is a diagram of the weapon.

331
00:17:39,766 --> 00:17:42,018
It seems to be the newest model
from the West.

332
00:17:42,101 --> 00:17:45,188
Here, instead of a matchlock,

333
00:17:45,271 --> 00:17:47,148
there's a flint attached here.

334
00:17:47,231 --> 00:17:51,361
Which means fewer misfires
and the build is rather simple.

335
00:17:51,444 --> 00:17:54,489
That is impressive.

336
00:17:54,572 --> 00:17:57,784
If we mass produce these,

337
00:17:57,867 --> 00:18:00,578
the way we fight will definitely change.

338
00:18:00,662 --> 00:18:03,790
We can fight in a tighter formation
and move more freely.

339
00:18:03,873 --> 00:18:05,583
I can't believe such weapons

340
00:18:05,667 --> 00:18:09,837
ended up in the hands of someone
targeting the emperor's brother...

341
00:18:09,921 --> 00:18:14,050
I wonder how they
got their hands on these?

342
00:18:17,804 --> 00:18:19,639
I wonder?

343
00:18:22,183 --> 00:18:25,603
Isn't it your job to investigate that?

344
00:18:25,687 --> 00:18:27,897
You can say that, but...

345
00:18:27,980 --> 00:18:30,024
Well, there's been a small problem.

346
00:18:30,817 --> 00:18:33,945
Someone in that department
got a little too rough with the culprits.

347
00:18:34,028 --> 00:18:36,239
So none of those captured
are able to speak now.

348
00:18:37,490 --> 00:18:40,910
There's no mercy for those
who plot against the royals,

349
00:18:40,993 --> 00:18:44,539
but botching the torture?
That's a costly mistake.

350
00:18:44,622 --> 00:18:46,082
So I was wondering

351
00:18:46,165 --> 00:18:49,419
if you have heard of anything about that,

352
00:18:49,502 --> 00:18:50,670
Lord Shishou?

353
00:18:51,337 --> 00:18:54,424
If I knew,
I would've reported it long ago.

354
00:18:55,425 --> 00:18:57,427
I see. What a shame.

355
00:18:58,261 --> 00:19:00,972
Let's get to the main discussion then.

356
00:19:01,931 --> 00:19:05,768
It's a diagram of the game of Go
my wife and I played yesterday.

357
00:19:06,602 --> 00:19:08,479
Wife...?

358
00:19:08,563 --> 00:19:12,817
Come to think of it, you recently
got married, didn't you, Lakan?

359
00:19:12,900 --> 00:19:13,943
Yes, I did.

360
00:19:14,527 --> 00:19:18,406
I heard the celebrations went on
for seven days and nights.

361
00:19:18,489 --> 00:19:21,701
You even know that?

362
00:19:21,784 --> 00:19:24,954
She's a sharp one, my wife.

363
00:19:25,037 --> 00:19:27,748
Every move she makes is
like a finely sharpened blade.

364
00:19:27,832 --> 00:19:30,918
I can't tell you how many times my heart
raced while we were playing.

365
00:19:31,002 --> 00:19:33,171
Look at this move! I would escape,

366
00:19:33,254 --> 00:19:35,590
but then she would get me
on the next move!

367
00:19:36,424 --> 00:19:39,010
How long do we have to
listen to this story?

368
00:19:39,093 --> 00:19:41,179
- And then--
- I apologize but...

369
00:19:41,262 --> 00:19:43,639
I have business to attend to.
I will take my leave.

370
00:19:43,723 --> 00:19:45,391
Thank you for the drink.

371
00:19:45,475 --> 00:19:47,101
What a shame.

372
00:19:47,852 --> 00:19:50,563
I'll make sure to send you a copy
of the diagram

373
00:19:50,646 --> 00:19:52,940
and my commentary notes along with it.

374
00:19:53,024 --> 00:19:54,734
No, there's no need to.

375
00:19:54,817 --> 00:19:57,570
No need to hesitate. Also,

376
00:19:57,653 --> 00:20:00,531
would you like a glass of grape juice?

377
00:20:01,282 --> 00:20:03,326
The red color really stands out

378
00:20:03,409 --> 00:20:05,536
in a glass cup.

379
00:20:07,872 --> 00:20:10,499
Indeed, it's beautiful.

380
00:20:11,792 --> 00:20:12,919
Right?

381
00:20:13,711 --> 00:20:15,796
I feel like you and I will get along well.

382
00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:18,674
I'd like to chat more
about my wife sometime.

383
00:20:18,758 --> 00:20:20,927
Maybe next time. Farewell.

384
00:20:25,014 --> 00:20:28,601
This juice has an unusual color,
doesn't it?

385
00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:30,937
There are even grapes out there

386
00:20:31,020 --> 00:20:33,314
with a ‘green' hue.

387
00:20:34,148 --> 00:20:36,859
That's clearly green, not red...

388
00:20:36,943 --> 00:20:39,695
Why didn't Lord Shishou say anything

389
00:20:39,779 --> 00:20:41,572
when he said it was red?

390
00:20:42,907 --> 00:20:44,867
Just as my uncle said...

391
00:20:49,956 --> 00:20:52,041
May I fix my hair?

392
00:20:52,667 --> 00:20:54,460
Go ahead.

393
00:20:54,543 --> 00:20:56,879
I'll keep watch to make sure no one comes.

394
00:20:57,505 --> 00:20:59,590
Finally, I can take off this mask.

395
00:21:06,681 --> 00:21:09,684
Wearing platform shoes
is quite exhausting.

396
00:21:10,184 --> 00:21:12,228
I'm sorry for asking you
for such a request.

397
00:21:12,812 --> 00:21:16,482
Standing in for the Crown Prince
isn't something you get to do every day.

398
00:21:16,565 --> 00:21:17,942
I quite enjoyed it.

399
00:21:18,901 --> 00:21:22,446
Looking at her, she's like
a beautiful civil servant.

400
00:21:22,530 --> 00:21:26,450
Who would guess this is Lady Ah-Duo,
the former high-ranking consort?

401
00:21:26,534 --> 00:21:30,329
The fox was so eccentric
that it made the raccoon dog seem normal.

402
00:21:30,413 --> 00:21:33,624
No one stands a chance
against the General.

403
00:21:33,708 --> 00:21:35,376
He seems to have a soft spot
for his wife though.

404
00:21:35,960 --> 00:21:37,878
Yes, and his daughter too.

405
00:21:37,962 --> 00:21:40,631
To think she's the General's daughter...

406
00:21:41,340 --> 00:21:44,552
But isn't he scrambling to deal with
the situation with that girl?

407
00:21:44,635 --> 00:21:46,429
The eunuch, Jinshi.

408
00:21:48,514 --> 00:21:51,934
To think she would go missing...

409
00:23:26,028 --> 00:23:28,822
The next episode is
"The Village of Foxes."

410
00:23:28,906 --> 00:23:30,407
Subtitle translation by: Melissa Nishizaki