ORIGINAL STORY BY NATSU HYUUGA
JADE PAVILION: MAOMAO
What should we do...?
What do you think, sir?
THIS STORY IS A FICION, AND ALL NAMES OF FIGURES ND ORGANIZATIONS ARE FICTITIOUS.
MOREOVER, THE STORY HAS NO RELATION TO REAL-LIFE INCIDENTS AND EVENTS.
After the execution
of Fengming, her relatives were robbed of their wealth,
and were sentenced to varying degrees of corporal punishment.
The crime was said to be committed by Fengming alone,
and it was fortunate that her master, Ah-Duo, was not questioned.
And now,
I have the names from Fengming's family and anyone with connections to the family.
The list contains names of the customers who conducted business with the family.
They did a wide variety of business, not just beekeeping.
There are about 80 people with connections
in the rear palace.
Eighty people out of 2,000, huh?
That's quite a blow.
JADE PAVILION: MAOMAO
The party where the Apothecary was sold off to after being kidnapped
had connections to the family.
We can cover this up if you'd like.
"If you'd like."
Of course, what else?
It doesn't matter if it's right or wrong.
Whatever I say will happen.
She's clear about the divide between commoners and nobility.
She'll follow whatever order is given to her.
It's simple for me to strike down any order.
I can just decide right now.
If I cover this up, I can keep her in the rear palace.
But what if that's not what she wants?
If she learned she was forced to remain where she didn't want to be,
how would she react?
I'm afraid of deepening the gap
that already exists between us.
Sir Jinshi.
I thought she was just a convenient chess piece.
- A mass firing? - Yeah, that's right.
All the daughters of parents that did business
with that family have to quit.
It's going to be a large number of girls.
I see...
There's a lot of girls who are panicking because they have to quit suddenly.
Looks like that family did business with a lot of people.
I have a bad feeling about this.
I'd be in a bind if I was fired right now.
The timing is bad.
After Lihaku's visit,
I haven't been able to send any wealthy customers to Grams.
If I go back now...
I'm home!
Here's a customer!
I'll definitely be sold off...
Maomao?
When I checked last time, my registered family was
listed as a merchant family that conducts trade.
If Fengming's family are bee farmers,
they may have some kind of
connection!
Sir Jinshi!
What's wrong? You're out of breath.
- Well... - Calm down. Your face is all red.
I need to talk to you.
Fine. Let's talk inside.
It's about the mass firing, right?
Yes.
- What'll happen to me? - Here's the registry.
THE JADE PAVILION: MAOMAO
So I'll be fired?
What do you want?
I thought she was just a convenient chess piece.
Ever since I became Lady Gyokuyou's attendant,
I can taste test, and have access to the medical office.
I enjoy the life I have now.
But I'm just a palace woman.
I'm in no position to request not to be fired.
I can't look like I'm begging...
I'm just a palace woman.
Whether it's menial work, cooking, or taste testing,
I'll do whatever you say, if it's an order.
"If it's an order..."
That's right.
As long as it's an order, I can get through this.
I won't complain even if my salary goes down.
If I can buy some time before I'm sold off, I can survive.
So, don't fire me!
I understand.
So...
I'll pay as much as I can.
- Oh... - Negotiation failed.
Maomao has been fired.
All right, then.
How long are you going to stay like that?
You should have stopped her.
Don't say anything.
The week after she was dismissed,
Xiaomao returned to the pleasure district.
I hear she was courteous
and said goodbye to all the people that took care of her.
I won't help you even if you regret this.
He lost his favorite toy.
It'll be a lot of work to find an interesting replacement toy for him.
I want the other one!
No...
Perhaps that girl isn't a toy after all.
He didn't make her stay because he didn't want to use her.
What a burdensome master I have. He's a lot of work.
If I can't find a replacement...
Perhaps I'll ask that soldier.
Depressed, sulking, gloomy...
See. You look better without freckles!
I'll lend you my lipstick.
I never imagined that I would ever get ready for a banquet with Maomao...
Our work tonight is
a banquet for the nobility held outside of the brothel.
It costs that much money to invite courtesans to one's mansion.
Not only that,
one night of entertainment costs a year's worth of salary for a common man.
To call the Three Princesses of the Verdigris House at the same time...
Some people are just really rich, huh?
I might be going with you,
but I'll just be there to support you, Big Sisters.
Here you go, Maomao.
I was able to get more money than I imagined when I left the rear palace.
That's why I was able to prevent being sold off.
A supporting role is very important.
Let's work hard, Maomao!
You're really cute!
It's almost time! Hurry up...
Hey, you look better than usual.
I can get you a customer right now, if you'd like.
Looks like Grams really wants me to be a courtesan.
Go earn us some money!
I can't sing poetry, and I can't play erhu.
Never mind dancing.
I'm just an apothecary's daughter who's only interested in medicine.
But she keeps approaching me with offers these past few years...
As expected of nobility.
This house is packed with super-expensive furnishings!
I'm sure they won't notice if I take one...
No, I shouldn't.
It's this room right here.
I hear they're high court officials who are friends of Lihaku's.
But they're younger than I imagined.
Drool...
All right, let's go.
If he knew someone this rich,
he should've introduced me earlier!
If they're Lihaku's connections,
then some of my debt might've been taken away.
All right, I have to work.
I know it's work, but it's tiring to smile all the time.
Oh? Isn't he entertained?
Excuse me.
Leave me alone.
I want to be alone.
Huh? His voice sounds familiar...
Sir Jinshi?
Why are you running away?
You can't touch courtesans. Don't you know?
Has anyone ever told you that you look really different with makeup?
I get that a lot.
Why are you dressed like that?
I'm earning money.
- At a brothel? - Yes.
Could it be, you...?
He must be in the habit of questioning people's chastity.
I don't take any personal customers.
- Yet. - Yet...
Shall I buy you, then?
What? You've got to be kidding...
Wait, that might be a good idea.
It won't be so bad to work in the rear palace again.
I thought you quit because you didn't like it there.
What? When did I say that?
I said I wanted to keep working there. You're the one that fired me.
What?
Yes, it was annoying work,
but not anyone can become a food taster.
My only complaint was I couldn't experiment with my poisons.
You shouldn't experiment with poison.
His expressions are really childish today...
That's right. That's the kind of person you are.
What do you mean?
Are you ever told that you don't explain yourself enough?
I get that a lot.
Why are you running from me?
It's the rules.
- It's just a little. - It's against the rules.
- It won't cost you anything! - My willpower.
Just one hand. Just the fingertips!
I forgot how stubborn this guy was...
Just the fingertips, okay?
What...
This dude...
Now I'm blushing too!
Oh, when did that happen?
- You should've told us, Maomao! - So embarrassing.
Hey, Big Sisters! Sir Gaoshun?
I was in so much of a frenzy
I don't really remember what happened after.
- Who was that? - How do you know him?
Geez. You're good!
I just remember that Big Sisters' interrogations were
never-ending...
VERDIGRIS HOUSE
All right, next...
I'll make some just in case.
Nothing good ever happens without my freckles.
That must've been last winter...
I was surprised to be kidnapped,
but to think I was sold off to the rear palace...
Not only that, I also got promoted to be an attendant.
I was supposed to stay out of people's business until my term was up...
Maomao. Is it ready?
Yeah. Here it is.
I need you to see a patient. Can you do it?
Okay.
The rear palace, huh?
That's the one place I never wanted to get involved in...
I hope everyone's doing well.
I'm leaving now.
Stay put. You only have so many chances to bathe here.
So what are your plans now?
I'll pay back my debt.
Of course you will.
Are you going back to the rear palace?
I don't know.
But maybe, the rear palace and the pleasure district...
Are not so different.
I see.
Can't sleep?
I'm going to get some fresh air.
- Be careful. - Yeah.
The rear palace, the pleasure district, it's all the same...
It's a flower garden, and a bird's cage...
LUOMEN
What will happen next?
So cold...
VERDIGRIS HOUSE
A few days later,
a beautiful nobleman comes to the capital's pleasure district.
Equipped with enough money to make even Grams happy,
and, for some reason...
a strange plant growing out of an insect...
All this man wished for was one girl.
PREVIEW OF NEXT EPISODE
Next Episode, "Serving in the Outer Court."
Subtitle translation by: Yukimi Ohashi