- 9 hours ago
Category
🦄
CreativityTranscript
00:00As we were seeing the first signs of spring, it became apparent that Lady Gyo-kyo was indeed pregnant.
00:15That's curious. Can she tell her mother's with child?
00:23How adorable!
00:25It might be time for me.
00:30Even if someone did propose, I doubt she'd be allowed to leave.
00:36That's the cost of being too good at one's job.
00:45The days here are fulfilling, and they truly do seem to fly by.
00:49In comparison, the two months spent at Master Jin-shu's office felt like forever.
00:53Do you want to draw some more pictures?
01:05The woolly milk cap mushroom. Very poisonous.
01:10Normal flowers, if you don't mind.
01:15Normal flowers, huh?
01:19Blue roses, you say?
01:21Indeed. I suppose you have never encountered them before.
01:24When you see those petals the first time, you never forget.
01:28Nothing else can compare to them.
01:30It's odd. They once adorned the palace, but not anymore.
01:34Perhaps you dreamt them up. I'm absolutely positive they don't exist.
01:38I assure you, they certainly do.
01:44I'd love to appreciate them again, so...
01:48What do you think? Are you up to the task?
01:52A man with your kind of power, nothing's outside the realm of possibility.
01:56I understand.
01:58If such a rose does indeed exist, I would like to see it as well.
02:01Well, then it's settled.
02:04My goodness, it's hard to contain my excitement.
02:06If you'll excuse me.
02:13I'll see you at next month's garden party.
02:18As if you weren't busy enough.
02:21Here you go, taking on more work.
02:23I know.
02:24Ask around. Surely one florist knows the secret.
02:33Setting aside the blue aspect.
02:34First, roses aren't even in season.
02:41Sorry to call on you so suddenly.
02:45The truth is, I may have promised to have blue roses decorate the palace again.
02:50And you thought of me?
02:52I am just an apothecary.
02:54Oh yes, I'm well aware.
02:56I wonder what prompted this.
02:59It's got him exhausted.
03:02Roses, huh?
03:03I do know a thing or two about them.
03:07Before coming here, I sold them with the courtesans to make some quick cash, but...
03:11And you're certain that they specifically said blue?
03:16Yes.
03:18Were they under the effects of a hallucinogen?
03:21Are you insinuating we have a drug problem?
03:23Master Jin-shi.
03:24So it's impossible?
03:33When does this miracle need to be performed?
03:36Could you find some by next month's garden party?
03:39Next month?
03:41Roses aren't in season for another two at the earliest.
03:43Master Jin-shi's reacting in this manner of someone forcing an impossible task on another person.
03:58Let me guess.
03:59This challenge was brought up by a certain strategist who will go unnamed.
04:05Yes.
04:06In that case, I'll take it on.
04:09Are you sure?
04:10I don't know if I can manage it, but I'll do my best.
04:14I refuse to keep running from him.
04:19I might as well smash that stupid monocle off his dumb smirking face.
04:25However, I need you to make a few arrangements on my behalf.
04:30You're most kind for allowing me to use it.
04:33Thank you, Lady Li Hua.
04:34I'm in your debt.
04:35It's quite alright.
04:37After all, you were the one who had it constructed in the first place.
04:41That was a while ago.
04:43Back then, I had a steam room built for the consort to help with the healing process.
04:49Now, I'm borrowing it for this project, but I'd feel bad using it for free.
04:53This is the Emperor's favorite book.
04:58I'm sure we'll both appreciate this.
05:01I'm glad I sent away for a new manual from the brothel.
05:04Take that side.
05:11Yes, sir!
05:12Master Jin-shi.
05:13Ah, you've arrived.
05:15I had them make the necessary adjustments.
05:17But how will this help?
05:19We're going to make the roses go mad.
05:22I beg your pardon?
05:23What does that mean, Apothecary?
05:25The light enters from there, and steam blows inside from the slats in the wall.
05:38The roses will grow in this warmed room.
05:41If we can't wait until the right season, we'll fool the flowers into thinking it's time to bloom.
05:46By forcing them to go mad, right?
05:49In theory, but no promises.
05:50Reunited at last!
06:05Shaolin?
06:06Let me carry that!
06:08Is your leg doing okay?
06:12Looks like they found me a chaperone.
06:17They've been telling me not to push myself.
06:19I guess they got fed up.
06:22It's fine.
06:23Sorry to make you help.
06:24Don't be.
06:25It's been a while since we teamed up!
06:28Mm-hmm.
06:29Far too long.
06:34We brought in over a hundred roses.
06:40This should be the last one.
06:43Wow!
06:44There's so many!
06:45We diversified the species, selecting early blooming ones when possible.
06:50You think they'll flower?
06:52After all this work, I hope so.
06:54Maintaining the temperature requires the utmost care.
07:10Even though I've been provided assistance, it's a difficult task to delegate to others.
07:15If we make a mistake and kill them, that would be the end of it.
07:26On sunny days, we bring them outside to expose them to the light.
07:31That must be so refreshing!
07:34Yeah.
07:35How's everything going?
07:38I've brought a gift.
07:39You read my mind.
07:46This is the life!
07:47Not only am I skipping work, but I get free snacks too!
07:51What we're doing counts as work.
07:56They're watching us.
07:58Yes.
07:58Maybe they're just curious.
08:01Or they love being scared.
08:02So, what do you want me to do next?
08:09If a seedling has a lot of sprouts on it, pick a few off.
08:13It helps concentrate the nutrients into the remaining ones, and can also prevent sickness.
08:24That's a big fella!
08:30I appreciate it.
08:31My pleasure.
08:32We have to hurry!
08:44No blooms yet.
08:46It's sure taking them a while.
08:53The cold days are the worst.
08:55I stay up all night maintaining the heat.
09:10Too bad you can't control the weather.
09:11You pulled another all-nighter?
09:26I slept right around dawn.
09:29That was literally moments ago!
09:31I'll do what I can on my own.
09:33You need to get some rest.
09:34No, I can't leave you.
09:39They're looking at us again.
09:42They've been showing up nearly every day.
09:45How annoying.
09:46I wonder if I can divert their attention.
09:55Oh, wow!
09:57So, this is what a manicure looks like!
10:00Everyone does it in the Pleasure District.
10:02I can sure see why!
10:05I can sure see why!
10:15Your nails!
10:16You did them too, Mau Mau?
10:18They're looking so cute!
10:20It's been in fashion recently.
10:23Yes, very popular.
10:26Especially among the high-ranking concubines.
10:29They decide what's in vogue.
10:36Seems like a waste of time.
10:41Lady Hongnyang prefers work over trends.
10:45Now that I've finished tasting for poison,
10:47I should go back to the Crystal Pavilion.
10:49So soon?
10:51A garden party is approaching.
10:53I see.
10:55Oh, before you leave.
10:57Sadly, Lady Gyokyo won't be attending.
11:00We're letting the focus of this event be Lady Lohlan's introduction.
11:04And to hide the pregnancy.
11:07Understood. I'm off.
11:09Hold on!
11:11Is everything alright at the Crystal Pavilion?
11:13Every day you're looking worse for wear.
11:15Just don't push yourself too hard.
11:17Well, be careful.
11:19Mama!
11:32Huh?
11:32Over here!
11:34Come quickly!
11:34Come quickly!
11:35A flower bud?
11:41Yes, I found it just now!
11:43We got one to grow at last!
11:45At this rate, we might make it just in time.
11:52Mama?
11:54Mama?
11:55Wake up!
11:56Has the Apothecary sent word?
12:07No.
12:08Nothing.
12:09I haven't been able to visit her for the past few days.
12:12Well, we've both been busy preparing for the party.
12:15Okay.
12:19Master Jinji.
12:20No.
12:41No.
12:41So that's Master Shishiro's daughter, Concubine Lolon.
12:58Simply splendid.
13:11Regarding Concubine Lolon, is she to your liking, or needs improving?
13:21And please hold nothing back, my Emperor.
13:25If you would.
13:29Oh.
13:41Blue roses, how?
13:44It can't be.
13:50If I may be so bold, please enjoy the beauty of these buds, while imagining how they look fully bloomed.
13:58Indeed, they're beautiful.
14:03Jinji makes his entrance, and the crowd trains their eyes on him.
14:08When a young eunuch hoards all the attention, some officials don't especially appreciate it, no matter how beautiful he is.
14:19Lust I don't mind. It's easy to exploit that.
14:26Envy is fine too. That's manageable.
14:29But what's really troubling is when I can't tell what's going on behind their eyes.
14:34Shishiro, Concubine Lolon's father, is favored by the mother of the former Emperor.
14:39Even now, the current one can't look him in the eye.
14:43That's why, I can never for a moment afford to let my smile fade.
14:47And besides, there's one more worth worrying about.
14:51That man, Lakan.
14:53What an annoying display.
15:12Are you awake?
15:14Yinghua.
15:15Please don't go back to the Crystal Pavilion.
15:18You always look exhausted when you return.
15:23Sorry to worry you.
15:24You're up.
15:29Excuse me.
15:30You can stay seated.
15:35I'm afraid time wasn't on our side.
15:39I was hoping they would have fully bloomed by now.
15:42I just hope you're not apologizing after everything I put you through.
15:47Huh?
15:48Never mind.
15:49You did well.
15:50How did you do it though?
15:54All I did was use a dye.
15:57Really?
15:58Why doesn't it come off when touched?
15:59I didn't mean on the outside.
16:02The color is inside.
16:03See?
16:07All of the roses we were cultivating started off with white petals.
16:11We mixed water with several colors, and had the buds absorb it.
16:18That's why there were so many colors, not just blue.
16:22Right.
16:23The leaves ended up turning black, so to keep the illusion, we plucked them off.
16:28Afterwards, we simply had to fix cotton soaked in the dyed water to the stems.
16:33That way, they wouldn't lose their vibrancy during the garden party.
16:36It was quite simple, really.
16:37In fact, the only difficult part was getting the roses to bloom at all.
16:43Simple, huh?
16:44Maybe in hindsight.
16:46Furthermore, because some officials no doubt would have picked a quarrel about this,
16:50I went ahead and revealed the entire trick to the Emperor.
16:54He seemed to enjoy the fact that he got to know the secret first,
16:58and had a good time listening to me explain.
17:01As for the story?
17:02About blue roses once being seen in the palace?
17:05Yes, well, my guess?
17:07Somebody with a lot of free time was feeding blue water to the roses.
17:10Who would do something like that?
17:16No clue.
17:17Maybe it was a gimmick for them to court ladies.
17:21That's unexpected.
17:22Are you painting your nails?
17:24Yes, but it doesn't suit me.
17:27If I had some balsam and wood swirl, I could have made them look prettier.
17:32The former is often used to dye nails, and the latter is nicknamed cat's foot.
17:37When mixed together and applied, they make fingernails a vivid red.
17:41But, even if I made them prettier, these look better than before.
17:46The item I asked about, I see you found it.
17:50Yes, as you requested.
17:53Thank you, Master Gaoshuan.
17:56At last, the stage has been set.
17:59And now, all I have to do is catch that nasty creep off guard.
18:04How vexing. I didn't anticipate my provocation to fail.
18:16From my perspective, most humans only look like ghost stones.
18:24Men are black stones, while women are white ones.
18:28Even my subordinates in the military only appear as chess pieces, at best.
18:33Most of them are soldiers, or rather pawns.
18:36However, as they continue climbing rank, they become cavalry and cannons.
18:41Working in the military is easy.
18:43I just need to know where to place the pieces.
18:46As a matter of fact, most wars can be won on that principle alone.
18:51It's easy for me.
18:53If I were useless in every other regard, my ability to position others would ensure the work would get done.
19:01My eyes hurt more than usual today.
19:04A red keeps flickering into view.
19:08So many manicures.
19:11The ones from my memories aren't this overly flamboyant crimson.
19:16There, the soft hue.
19:18The color of balsam.
19:19The color of balsam.
19:20The color of balsam.
19:21Oh, my God.
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