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apothecaryscript · 7 days ago

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Memo for Episode 18 “Lantern Plant”

壬氏「ご様子(ようす)は？」

Jinshi “Go-yosu’wa?”

Jinshi “How is she?”

様子（ようす/Yosu）: situation, condition, how it looks like ＋　ご(御/Go): Keigo(honorific)

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壬氏「御子(みこ)の状況(じょうきょう)は？」

Jinshi “Miko’no jokyo’wa?”

Jinshi “How is the baby doing?”

御子（みこ/Miko）: the (royal) baby

The Kanji “御” can be read as “み/Mi”, “ご/Go”, “おん/On”, and “お/O”. In our daily lives, when we refer to someone’s baby with Keigo, we normally say “お子様（御子様/おこさま/O-ko-sama）”. “み/Mi” is used to refer to someone royal or close to the God.

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羅門「逆子(さかご)の件(けん)でしたら、心配(しんぱい)ありません。猫猫の治療(ちりょう)が功(こう)を奏(そう)したようです」

Ruomen “Sakago’no ken-deshi-tara, shinpai ari-masen. Maomao’no chiryo’ga ko’o so-shita-yodesu.”

Luomen “If you’re talking about the breech birth, that is no longer a concern. It seems like Maomao’s treatments worked.”

件（けん/Ken）: subject, matter, regarding～

功を奏す・奏する（こうをそうす・そうする/Ko’o so-su, so-suru）: work well, succeed = 奏功する（そうこうする/So-ko-suru）

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桜花(インファ)「あっ…先生(せんせい)、邪魔(じゃま)です！」

Infa “A… Sensei, jama-desu!”

Yinghua “Doctor, out of the way!”

（あなたは）邪魔（じゃま）です/(Anata’wa)jama-desu: You are in the/my way.

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黒羽(コクウ)「猫(ねこ)でも見(み)ててください」

Kokuu “Neko’demo mitete-kudasai.”

Koku-u “Just look after the cat.”

The translation is perfect. Just to be exact, “〇〇でも” itself means “〇〇 or whatever, anything else is okay”.

猫を見ててください（ねこをみててください/Neko’o mitete-kudasai）: Please look after the cat.

猫でも見ててください（ねこでもみててください）: Just look after the cat (or do whatever, but don’t disturb our work!)”

This “でも” is the same as the one in “なんでも(いい)/何でも(いい)/Nan-demo(-ii): whatever”

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高順「宦官(かんがん)の名(な)は天(ティェン)。元(もと)は異民族(いみんぞく)の奴隷(どれい)という話(はな��)でしたが、共(とも)に来(き)たはずの者(もの)の誰(だれ)とも面識(めんしき)がなかったそうです。恐(おそ)らく、どこかで紛(まぎ)れ込(こ)んだ者(もの)かと…」

Gaoshun “Kangan’no na’wa Tien. Moto’wa iminzoku’no dorei-to-iu hanashi-deshita-ga, tomo’ni kita-hazu’no dare’tomo menshiki’ga nakatta-sodesu. Osoraku, doko-ka’de magire-konda mono-kato…”

Gaoshun “The eunuch is named Tian. He was supposed to be a slave from a foreign nation, but none of the others who arrived with him were acquainted with him. He must have snuck in somewhere.”

面識がない（めんしきがない/Men-shiki’ga nai）: isn’t acquainted, don’t know someone, haven’t seen someone

⇔ 面識がある（めんしきがある/Menshiki’ga aru）: is acquainted, know someone, have seen someone

面識（めんしき/Men-shiki） = 面（めん/Men）: face ＋識（しき/Shiki）: knowledge

紛れ込む（まぎれこむ/Magire-komu）: slip in unnoticed, blend in, sneak in

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高順「周(まわ)りと馴染(なじ)まずにいたのも、ボロを出(だ)さないためでしょう。おかげで、情報(じょうほう)もほぼ残(のこ)っていません」

Gaoshun “Mawari’to najimazu-ni ita-nomo, boro’o dasa-nai-tame desho. Okage-de, joho’mo hobo nokotte-ima-sen.”

Gaoshun “He probably kept his distance from the others to maintain that secret. Because of that, we barely have any information on him.”

馴染む（なじむ/Najimu）: fit in, become familiar with, adapt to, adjust

ボロを出す（ぼろをだす/Boro’o dasu）・ボロが出る（ぼろがでる/Boro’ga deru）: to have something you’ve been trying to hide revealed

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高順「はい。先帝(せんてい)のお手付(てつ)きになり、後宮(こうきゅう)で最期(さいご)を迎(むか)えた者(もの)たちの墓(はか)です。天(ティェン)はそこで何者(なにもの)かの墓(はか)の前(まえ)で、手(て)を合(あ)わせていたようです」

Gaoshun “Hai. Sentei’no otetsuki’ni-nari, kokyu’de saigo’o mukaeta mono-tachi’no haka desu. Tien’wa soko’de nani-mono-ka’no haka’no mae’de, te’o awasete-ita-yodesu.”

Gaoshun “Yes. The graves of those who were deflowered by the late emperor, who died in the rear palace. Tian was seen paying his respects to one of the graves there.”

最期（さいご/Saigo）: the end of one’s lifetime (=death)

最後（さいご/Saigo）: the end

Above two words sound the same, so be careful. In case you write 最期(death) by mistake, it may cause a big misunderstanding.

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壬氏「はっ…」（血(ち)の繋(つな)がりがないという噂(うわさ)を信(しん)じ、東宮(とうぐう)の地位(ちい)から逃(のが)れようとした…。帝(みかど)である兄(あに)に頼(たの)み込(こ)み、宦官(かんがん)の名(な)を得(え)て女(おんな)の園(その)にいるのは、何(なん)のためか…。滑稽(こっけい)という他(ほか)ない……）

Jinshi “Ha…” (Chi’no tsunagari’ga nai-to-iu uwasa’o shinji, togu’no chi’i’kara nogare-yoto shita… Mikado’de-aru ani’ni tanomi-komi, kangan’no na’o ete onna’no sono’ni iru-nowa, nan’no-tame-ka… Kokkei-to-iu-hoka nai……)

Jinshi (I believed the rumors that said I had no connection to him. I tried to escape the position of crown prince. I begged my brother, the emperor, to let me take on a eunuch’s identity, and plant myself in the garden of women. All for what? How ridiculous.)

Here, the previously unspoken story of how he became Jinshi the Eunuch was revealed. He did not want to succeed to the throne, and he believed that he was not fit to be the crown prince if he was not related by blood to the previous emperor. So, he begged the emperor to permit to become Jinshi the Eunuch, and has been trying to solve all the problems around the rear palace so that new princes can be born and brought up.

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羅半「初(はじ)めてお目(め)にかかります。漢羅半(カンラハン)と申(もう)します」

Rahan “Hajimete ome’ni kakari-masu. Kan Rahan-to moshi-masu.”

Lahan “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Kan Lahan.”

He was adopted by Lakan, but in terms of blood relationship he is Lakan’s nephew, meaning Maomao’s cousin.

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羅半「こちらの額(がく)、少(すこ)～し勉強(べんきょう)していただけないでしょうか？」

Rahan “Kochira’no gaku, sukoooshi benkyo-shite-itadake-nai-desho-ka?”

Lahan “Could you give us just a small discount on this bill?”

勉強する（べんきょうする/Benkyo-suru）: This word usually means “study”, but it also means “discount”. Using this roundabout word, you can ask for a discount without causing much discomfort to the store staff.

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馬閃「自業自得(じごうじとく)では？」

Basen “Jigo-jitoku’dewa?”

Basen “He should reap what he sows…”

自業自得（じごうじとく/Jigo-jitoku）: You reap what you sow, What goes around comes around, It serves you right.

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羅半「仰(おお)せのままに」

Rahan “Oose’no mama-ni.”

Lahan “As you wish.”

仰せ（おおせ/Oose）: orders or words from a quite high-ranking person

仰せになる（おおせになる/Oose’ni naru）: (a quite high-ranking person) says → very formal and not often used

仰る（おっしゃる/Ossharu）: Keigo(honorific) of “言う/いう: say” → often used in our daily lives

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This episode was very detailed about Jinshi. Not knowing Maomao’s safety for 10 days already, it is no wonder that Jinshi is so anxious that he was unable to behave as usual and expressed his emotion in a way that he would never normally do. And the suffering he had since childhood and the circumstance that led him to become Jinshi the Eunuch was finally revealed. By the way, how excellent he is to remember the faces and names of all the ladies-in-waiting in the rear palace! Furthermore, when he was shown the figures of the national treasury by Lahan, he instantly understood what they meant and what Lahan was trying to say, which shows how brilliant he is. Also, I’m very happy to see the scene in anime where Lakan became furious to find out Maomao was missing, and destroyed the wall of the rear palace. Lakan’s eccentric actions always add spices to the story, and I’d love to see them.

Please note that there will be no broadcast next Friday, and the next episode will air on Friday, May 23rd at 11:45pm in Japan time. Two weeks is a long time to wait…

#apothecary english #apothecary romaji #the apothecary diaries #apothecary diaries #learning japanese #japanese #薬屋のひとりごと #薬屋のひとりごと　英語 #薬屋　英語　学習 #japan #KNH #season 2

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tsunflowers · 11 months ago

Note

"usually you read a fan translation and then the names change when an official spelling is decided on so this is truly a novel experience for me to have been reading the official translation with the names transliterated as Chinese names would be and then switching to a fan translation where the names are romanized Japanese versions of Chinese names"

So some interesting notes on this:

To start, Shenryu = Shenlu (Shēnlǜ), Shin = Xing.

Also, the official translation does actually keep closer to the Japanese versions of some characters' names. For example, the pinyin for the characters used for Gyokuyou would actually be "Yù Yè", and Jinshi would be "Renshi" (and the alias he uses when disguised as a commoner, Jinka, would be "Renhua").

The way this handled in the original Japanese is that the Chinese characters have katakana rubi characters above them to force the Japanese readings. (e.g., for Yù Yè/Gyokuyou, "玉葉" has "ギョクヨウ" above it).

This is important because of an interesting detail that gets lost in translation: Maomao's Pa (Luomen) & father (Lakan)'s given names actually start with the same character (羅), but are given different forced readings by the katakana rubi!

Luomen is 羅門 with the rubi ルオメン (Ruomen), which pretty much directly matches the pinyin Luómén.

But Lakan is 羅漢 with the rubi ラカン (Rakan), instead of the pinyin Luó Hàn.

The second character used in Lakan's name (漢) is extra interesting because:

a) It's actually the same character used for their family name. Their full names are "漢羅門 (Hàn Luómén)" and "漢羅漢 (Hàn Luó Hàn)". Despite this, their clan is known as the "La Clan" (Luo).

b) It's the same character used IRL for the Han river, and therefore the same character used in named Hanzhong region, after which its 3rd century BC king, Liu Bang, named the Han dynasty he later founded.

I'm so thrown by jinshi being renshi. I dont know that man

I would never have figured out that luomen and lakan have the same character starting their names. so they match as relatives and maomao's two dads but the different reading is there to throw you off at first? very powerful name choices

#my nyasks

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zura-janai-loser-da · 6 years ago

Photo

#kusuriya no hitorigoto #maomao #jinshi #gaoshun #ruomen #rihaku #rakan #basen #honnyan #gyokuyou #picture

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kusuriya-no-hitorigoto · 6 years ago

Video

youtube

Maomao and Ruomen (the other pharmacists, Jinshi and Gaoshun)

#kusuriya no hitorigoto #maomao #ruomen #vine

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nanachanart · 4 years ago

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Inktober 2021 - Day 03: Vessel

Jujutsu Kaisen (Sukuna Ruomen) Fan Art

https://instagram.com/nanachanart

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iwillfightformydream · 1 year ago

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Every member of the La clan has autism.

Examples:

Lakou:While he may be considered one of the less exceptional individuals within the La clan, he still possesses a penchant for scheming. His expertise lies in agriculture, with a particular fondness for sweet potatoes.

Lakan:He is notoriously eccentric, excelling as a brilliant tactician with expertise in Go and shogi. However, he struggles in almost every other aspect, including face recognition, except for his 'Lover' and daughter.

Luomen: He thinks it's better not to talk about stuff if there's no proof for it.

Lahan: He is extremely good with numbers and finances, and he actually good at social cues.

Maomao:Her passion for poisons and herbs drives her to conduct experiments on her own body, finding great pleasure in consuming these substances.

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iwillfightformydream · 1 year ago

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Little Maomao & Lahan: we’re back from the store!

Lakou & Lahan’s older brother: Hi welcome back, did you get potatoes like we asked at the store?

Little Maomao & Lahan: Nope, we got herbs, a counting board(abacus), and new scissors.

Lakou: . . . . What . . .

Lahan’s older brother: . . . . Why

Little Maomao & Lahan: :D

Lakan who witnessed their entire interaction “Crackling”: Hehehaha

Luomen who also witnessed their interaction: Welp, those 2 are definitely my grandchildren

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iwillfightformydream · 1 year ago

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In my functional la(ra) clan:

Maomao still lives with Luomen but he’s more of a grandpa or uncle to her, as she actually has a positive relationship with her bio father Lakan.

They live around the same area as in Canon as Luomen enjoys, planting herbs way too much. They tried to move

So Maomao and Lumen live in a very slightly bigger house, and still live near the pleasure district.

Maomao still knows poison and herbs but has some skills in Go and Shogi thanks to Lakan. Lahan has also helped her become better in finance.

Lahan is still skilled in finances, and knows a bit, not very much about poisons and herbs due to Maomao and Luomen he has a bit of resistance to poison thanks to Maomao giving him barely poisonous tea and is also has some skills in Go and Shogi thanks to Lakan.

#kusuriya no hitorigoto #functional la(ra) clan #Maomao #lakan #rakou #rahan #ra clan #rakan #la clan #luomen #ruomen #knh ra clan #knh la clan #knh maomao #the apothecary diaries #knh

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iwillfightformydream · 1 year ago

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Gide:Welcome to the palace

*points to the clans*

Gide: these are the clans

*points to the La(Ra) clan*

Gide: this is the La(Ra) clan

Gide: careful they bite

#functional La(Ra) clan #well not exactly #but more like they have a better relationship with each other #la clan #knh la clan #ra clan #knh Ra clan #kusuriya no hitorigoto #the apothecary diaries #Maomao #Lahan #Lakan #rakan #rahan #loumen #rouman #luomen #ruomen #knh

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apothecaryscript · 19 days ago

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Memo for Episode 40 “Festering Resentment”

虞淵（やぶ医者）「どれどれ…羅門さん、綺麗(きれい)な字(じ)を書(か)くねぇ」

Guen (Yabu-Isha) “Dore-dore… Ruomen-san, kirei-na ji’o kaku-nee.”

Guen (Quack Doctor) “Let’s see. Wow, Luomen, your handwriting is very pretty.”

It’s true that thanks to computers and smartphones, there are fewer opportunities to write by hand recently, but still, being able to write beautifully is a very good thing in Japan. I think that people overseas probably have no idea whether the Luomen’s handwriting shown in this anime is beautiful or not, but I thought it very beautiful although I couldn’t read it at all. Handwritten characters are like a work of art, so it’s natural that we can tell who wrote them.

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羅門「じゃあ、これを書(か)き取(と)り練習(れんしゅう)の手本(てほん)にできないか、聞(き)いてみてくれないかね？」

Ruomen “Jaa, kore’o kaki-tori-renshu’no tehon’ni deki-nai-ka, kiite-mite-kurenai-kane?”

Luomen “In that case, can you go and ask if they can use this as an example to practice writing with?”

手本（てほん/Tehon）: model, example

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虞淵（やぶ医者）「はいよ」

Guen (Yabu-Isha) “Hai-yo.”

Guen (Quack Doctor) “Sure.”

はいよ！(Hai-yo): a casual and lively way of saying “はい/yes”. In this case, Guen is just speaking friendly.

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猫猫「これかな…。やらないから」

Maomao “Kore-kana… Yara-nai-kara.”

Maomao “Maybe it’s this. You can’t have it.”

やる(Yaru): give, do

やらないから(Yaranai-kara): I’ll not give this to you, so…(stop, give up, and so on.)

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老宦官「ほう、それは初耳(はつみみ)だ。今日(きょう)は小蘭(シャオラン)はいないのかね？」

Ro-kangan “Ho, sore’wa hatsu-mimi-da. Kyo’wa Shaoran’wa inai-no-kane?”

Old eunuch “Oh, that’s news to me. Isn’t Xiaolan here today?”

初耳（はつみみ/Hatsu-mimi）: hearing something for the first time

それは初耳だ（それははつみみだ/Sore’wa hatsu-mimi-da.）: That’s news to me. It’s the first time I’ve heard of it.

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猫猫（診療所(しんりょうじょ)か…。深緑(シェンリュ)様(さま)なら、若い宦官(かんがん)をこき使(つか)いそうだ）

Maomao (Shinryo-jo-ka… Shenryu-sama-nara, wakai kangan’o koki-tsukai-soda.)

Maomao (The clinic… I guess Lady Shenlü would have a lot of work for the young eunuchs.)

こき使う（こきつかう/Koki-tsukau）: use something hard, drive somebody hard, overwork = 酷使する（こくしする/Kokushi-suru）

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老宦官「ははぁ。これを書(か)き写(か)させて、あちこち張(は)ろうってことだね」

Ro-kangan “Hahaa. Kore’o kaki-utsu-sasete, achi-kochi harotte koto-dane.”

Old eunuch “Ha, ha. He wants to make copies to put them up everywhere.”

ははぁ(Hahaa): I see, I know, I guess…

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翠苓「相変(あいか)わらず勘(かん)が働(はたら)くな。おかげで私(わたし)は死体(したい)になり損(そこ)ねた」

Suirei “Ai-kawarazu kan’ga hataraku-na. Okage’de watashi’wa shitai’ni nari-soko-neta.”

Suirei “You’re a smart one, as always. Like the time you prevented me from becoming a corpse.”

相変わらず（あいかわらず/Ai-kawarazu）: As before, as always

勘が働く（かんがはたらく/Kan’ga hataraku）: be intuitive, have a good intuition/sixth sense

(～の)おかげで（Okage-de）: thanks to～, because of～

In this case, adding “その” just before “おかげで” makes it easier for you to understand.

相変わらず勘が働くな。（その）おかげで私は死体になり損ねた。

“As before, you have a good intuition. Because of it/That’s why I failed to become a corpse.”

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猫猫「ここで私(わたし)を始末(しまつ)したところで、すぐ見(み)つかりますよ」

Maomao “Koko’de watashi’o shimatsu-shita-tokoro-de, sugu mitsukari-masu-yo.”

Maomao “If you killed me here, they’d find you right away.”

（もし/たとえ）～したところで: Even if～　＝　もし～しても/たとえ～したとしても

The translation is “If～”, but to be strict, “Even if～” is better.

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羅漢「ええ。大量(たいりょう)に作(つく)ることができれば、戦(いくさ)がガラリと変(か)わるでしょうな。より密集(みっしゅう)した陣形(じんけい)も取れるし、移動(いどう)もしやすい。それを…皇(おう)弟(てい)の命(いのち)を狙(ねら)うような不届(ふとど)き者(もの)が持(も)つとは。あやつらは、どうやってこれを手(て)に入(い)れたんですかねぇ…」

Rakan “Ee. Tairyo-ni tsukuru-koto’ga dekireba, ikusa’ga garari-to kawaru-desho-na. Yori misshu-shita jinkei’mo torero-shi, ido’mo shi-yasui. Sore’o…otei’no inochi’o nerau-yona futodoki-mono’ga motsu-towa. Ayatsu-ra’wa, do-yatte kore’o te’ni-iretan-desu-ka-nee…”

Lakan “Yes. If it could be mass-produced, it would change the shape of warfare. It would allow for more tightly-packed formations, and make travel easier. Such an item being carried by scoundrels who seek to assassinate the imperial younger brother�� I wonder how they got their hands on this.”

移動する（いどうする/Ido-suru）: move (from somewhere to elsewhere)

It’s translated as “make travel,” but I think it means moving around in a battle in this case. This word is used to mean to move either a long or short distance.

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子昌「七日七晩(なのかななばん)お祭(まつ)り騒(さわ)ぎだったと聞(き)いておりますぞ」

Shisho “Nanoka-nana-ban omatsuri-sawagi-datta-to kiite-ori-masu-zo.”

Shishou “They say that it was a whole week of festivities.”

→It sounded like the VA said “Nanoka-nano-ban,” but as far as I know 七日七晩 is read as “Nanoka-nana-ban.” I don’t know if I mis-heard it or nano-ban is also correct. Maybe it’s just common to read it as nana recently, but originally it was correct to read it as nano, because I think if he just pronounced it wrong, they would have corrected it and re-recorded it.

七日七晩（なのかななばん/Nanoka-nana-ban）: seven days and seven nights

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阿多「狐(きつね)が変人(へんじん)過(す)ぎて、狸(たぬき)が普通(ふつう)に見えた」

Āduo “Kitsune’ga henjin-sugite, tanuki’ga futsu-ni mieta.”

Ah-Duo “The fox was such a weirdo, it made the tanuki look normal.”

狸（たぬき/Tanuki）: raccoon dog, tanuki

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阿多「その娘(むすめ)の件(けん)で対応(たいおう)に追(お)われているのだろう？宦官(かんがん)・壬氏殿(ジンシどの)は。まさか…行方不明(ゆくえふめい)になるとはな」

Āduo “Sono musume’no ken’de taio’ni owarete-iruno-daro? Kangan-Jinshi-dono’wa. Masaka…yukue-fumei’ni naru-towa-na.”

Ah-Duo “And that daughter is why Master Jinsh the eunuch is busy, correct? To think she’d go missing…)

～の件で（～のけんで/～No ken’de）: regarding～, in/with regard to～, about (the matter of)～

件（けん/Ken）: matter, case, subject, issue

行方不明(ゆくえふめい/Yukue-fumei): missing, unaccounted for

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From this episode, the rapid development towards the climax of Season 2 began. In the anime, Lakan was very cool, wasn’t he? In the original novel, it’s described more comically. While drinking juice with Shishou and Ah-Duo who pretended to be the imperial younger brother, he suddenly took out a mooncake from his pocket and ate it, with tiny pieces of mooncake around his chin, and even after Shishou left, he continued to talk to Ah-Duo about the Go game he had played with his wife… I like the serious and cool Lakan, but I love the gap between the comical and serious parts, so I want the comical movements to be animated without being omitted. That said, when Lakan first appeared I thought he was an absolute villain, so now I can’t believe that I like him very much. Where will Maomao be taken, and what will happen to her? I’m looking forward to the next episode.

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apothecaryscript · 13 days ago

Text

Episode 17 (Ep.41): The Fox Village / 第１７話（第４１話）『狐の里（きつねのさと/Kitsune’no sato）』

壬氏(ジンシ)「玉葉妃(ギョクヨウひ)。猫猫(マオマオ)が帰(かえ)って来(き)ていないとは、どういうことでしょうか？」

Jinshi “Gyokuyo-hi. Maomao’ga kaette-kite-inai-towa, do-iu-koto desho-ka?”

Jinshi “Concubine Gyokuyou, what do you mean by ‘Maomao is missing?’”

玉葉妃「その様子(ようす)だと、あなたが勝手(かって)に連(つ)れ出(だ)した��けではないようね」

Gyokuyo-hi “Sono yosu-dato, anata’ga katte-ni tsure-dashita-wake’dewa nai-yo-ne.”

Concubine Gyokuyou “Sounds like we can rule out the possibility of you borrowing her without asking.”

壬氏「そんなことはしません」

Jinshi “Sonna koto’wa shima-sen.”

Jinshi “I would never do that.”

玉葉妃「また何(なに)か厄介事(やっかいごと)に首(くび)を突(つ)っ込(こ)んだのかしら」

Gyokuyo-hi “Mata nanika yakkai-goto’ni kubi’o tsukkonda-no-kashira.”

Concubine Gyokuyou “Did she get herself involved in some trouble again?”

壬氏「紅娘(ホンニャン)殿(どの)、いつから猫猫の姿(すがた)が見(み)えないのです？」

Jinshi “Hon’nyan-dono, itsu-kara Maomao’no sugata’ga mienai-no-desu?”

Jinshi “Lady Hongniang, how long has it been since anyone saw Maomao?”

紅娘「昨日(きのう)の昼(ひる)までは、おりました。医局(いきょく)で、玉葉様が使(つか)う灸(きゅう)のもぐさを準備(じゅんび)していたそうです。その時(とき)、後宮(こうきゅう)に張(は)り出(だ)す注意書(ちゅういが)きを作(つく)る話(はなし)をしたそうで、その後(あと)、手習(てなら)い所(じょ)に行(い)ったところまでは…。猫猫が行きそうな所(ところ)は捜(さが)して回(まわ)ったのですが、見(み)つけられず…」

Hon’nyan “Kino’no hiru-made’wa, ori-mashita. Ikyoku’de, Gyokuyo-sama’ga tsukau kyu’no mogusa’o junbi-shite-ita-so-desu. Sono-toki, kokyu’ni hari-dasu chui-gaki’o tsukuru hanashi’o shita-sode, sono-ato, tenarai-jo’ni itta-tokoro-made’wa… Maomao’ga iki-sona tokoro’wa sagashite mawattano-desuga, mitsuke-rarezu…”

Hongniang “She was here around midday yesterday. She said she was preparing mugwort at the doctor’s office for Lady Gyokuyou’s moxibustion. Apparently, they discussed making notices to put up in the rear palace. She supposedly went to the school after that. We searched everywhere that she might go, but we couldn’t find her.”

壬氏（多少(たしょう)、暴走(ぼうそう)するところ��あるが、玉葉妃の侍女(じじょ)という立場(たちば)で勝手(かって)に持(も)ち場(ば)を離(はな)れれば、処罰(しょばつ)されることは分(わ)かっているはずだ。帰(かえ)るに帰れない状況(じょうきょう)か、あるいは、何(なに)かに巻(ま)き込(こ)まれたか…）

Jinshi (Tasho, boso-suru-tokoro’wa aru-ga, Gyokuyo-hi’no jijo-to-iu tachiba’de katte-ni mochiba’o hanare-reba, shobatsu-sareru-koto’wa wakatte-iru-hazu-da. Kaeru-ni kaere-nai jokyo-ka, arui’wa, nanika’ni maki-komareta-ka…)

Jinshi (She does tend to get carried away sometimes, but she knows she’d be punished for leaving her post while serving as Concubine Gyokuyou’s lady-in-waiting. Is there a reason why she can’t come back? Or did she get caught up in something?)

玉葉妃「誰(だれ)かの恨(うら)みを買(か)ったのかしら？」

Gyokuyo-hi “Dareka’no urami’o katta-no-kashira?”

Concubine Gyokuyou “Did she incur someone’s wrath?”

紅娘「恨(うら)みなら、あちこちで買(か)っていそうですね…」

Hon’nyan “Urami’nara, achi-kochi’de katte-iso-desu-ne…”

Hongniang “It sounds like there were multiple instances for that.”

一同「ん…」

Ichido “N…”

玉葉妃「いくら猫猫でも、大勢(おおぜい)に殴(なぐ)られたりしたら、ひとたまりもないわよね」

Gyokuyo-hi “Ikura Maomao’demo, oozei’ni nagurare-tari-shitara, hito-tamari’mo nai-wayone.”

Concubine Gyokuyou “Not even Maomao could fight back if a whole group came after her, right?”

高順(ガオシュン)「ええ。ですが…道連(みちづ)れを作(つく)らずに、小猫(シャオマオ)が簡単(かんたん)に倒(たお)されるとは思(おも)えません」

Gaoshun “Ee. Desu-ga…michi-zure’o tsukurazu’ni, Shaomao’ga kantan-ni tao-sareru-towa omoe-masen.”

Gaoshun “No, but I doubt she’d let herself go down easily without taking someone with her.”

2人「ん…」

Futari “N…”

壬氏（理由(りゆう)もなくいなくなったままだと、処罰(しょばつ)せざるを得(え)なくなる…。だがその前(まえ)に、捜(さが)し出(だ)すことが先決(せんけつ)だろう）

Jinshi (Riyu’mo-naku inaku-natta-mama-dato, shobatsu-sezaru’o enaku-naru… Daga sono-mae’ni, sagashi-dasu-koto’ga sen-ketsu daro.)

Jinshi (If she remains missing without cause, I’ll be forced to punish her. But before that, we must find her.)

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壬氏「失礼(しつれい)する」

Jinshi “Shitsu-rei-suru.”

Jinshi “Excuse me.”

虞淵(グエン)（やぶ医者(いしゃ)）「あっ、壬氏様。今(いま)、お茶(ちゃ)を…」

Guen (Yabu-Isha) “A, Jinshi-sama. Ima, ocha’o…”

Guen (Quack Doctor) “Oh, Master Jinshi. Let me make some tea―”

壬氏「いや、いい。それよりも、聞(き)きたいことがある」

Jinshi “Iya, ii. Sore-yorimo, kiki-tai koto’ga aru.”

Jinshi “No, don’t. I have questions for you.”

羅門(ルォメン)「猫猫のことですね」

Ruomen “Maomao’no koto desu-ne.”

Luomen “This is about Maomao, isn’t it?”

壬氏「ああ。いなくなる前(まえ)のことを詳(くわ)しく聞(き)かせてくれ」

Jinshi “Aa. Inaku-naru-mae’no koto’o kuwashiku kikasete-kure.”

Jinshi “Yes. Tell me about what happened before she went missing.”

羅門「はい」

Ruomen “Hai.”

Luomen “Yes.”

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羅門「…以上(いじょう)です」

Ruomen “…Ijo-desu.”

Luomen “That is all.”

壬氏（医局(いきょく)でもぐさを作(つく)り、その後(ご)、手習(てなら)い所(じょ)へ行(い)った…。翡翠宮(ひすいきゅう)で聞(き)いた以上(いじょう)のことは分(わ)からないか…）

Jinshi (Ikyoku’de mogusa’o tsukuri, sono-go, tenarai-jo’e itta… Hisui-Kyu’de kiita-ijo’no koto’wa wakara-nai-ka…)

Jinshi (She prepared mugwort at the doctor’s office, then went to the school. I heard that already at the Jade Pavilion.)

壬氏「フゥ…。そういえば、今日(きょう)は毛毛(マオマオ)はいないのか？」

Jinshi “Fuu… So-ieba, kyo’wa Maomao’wa inai-noka?”

Jinshi “By the way, where’s Maomao the cat?”

虞淵（やぶ医者）「毛毛と言(い)えば、嬢(じょう)ちゃんがここを出(で)て行(い)く時(とき)、やたら張(は)り付(つ)いていたなぁ」

Guen (Yabu-Isha) “Maomao-to-ieba, jochan’ga koko’o dete-iku-toki, yatara hari-tsuite-ita-naa.”

Guen (Quack Doctor) “Speaking of Maomao, she seemed to be quite stuck on the little lady before she left.”

羅門「ん？どんな様子(ようす)でしたか？」

Ruomen “N? Donna yosu deshita-ka?”

Luomen “In what way?”

虞淵（やぶ医者）「ああ、ちょうど羅門さんが厠(かわや)に行(い)ってる間(あいだ)だったかな。じゃれつくにしては、しつこかったよ。確(たし)か、疲労(ひろう)回復(かいふく)にいいものをって、薬(くすり)を取(と)り出(だ)した後(あと)かな」

Guen (Yabu-Isha) “Aa, chodo Ruomen-san’ga kawaya’ni itteru-aida datta-kana. Jare-tsuku’ni-shitewa, shitsuko-katta-yo. Tashika, hiro-kaifuku’ni ii-mono’otte, kusuri’o tori-dashita-ato-kana.”

Guen (Quack Doctor) “Oh yes, it was right around when you were off to the washroom. She was very persistent, and not just in a playful way. I think it was right after the little lady said she had something to heal fatigue.”

羅門「ふむ…」

Ruomen “Fumu…”

虞淵（やぶ医者）「どうしたんだい？羅門さん」

Guen (Yabu-Isha) “Do-shitan-dai? Ruomen-san.”

Guen (Quack Doctor) “What is it, Luomen?”

羅門「持(も)って行(い)ったのは、これですか？」

Ruomen “Motte-itta-nowa, kore desu-ka?”

Luomen “Was it this one she took?”

虞淵（やぶ医者）「ん～、そこまでは覚(おぼ)えていないけど、前(まえ)はもっと入(はい)っていた気(き)がするねぇ」

Guen (Yabu-Isha) “Nnn, soko-made’wa oboete-inai-kedo, mae’wa motto haitte-ita ki’ga suru-nee.”

Guen (Quack Doctor) “Hmm, I don’t remember. But I do think we had more of that before.”

羅門「ふむ…。申(もう)し訳(わけ)ありませんが、捜(さが)しに出(で)てもいいでしょうか？」

Ruomen “Fumu… Moshi-wake ari-masen-ga, sagashi’ni detemo ii-desho-ka?”

Luomen “My apologies, but may I go and search?”

壬氏「居場所(いばしょ)が分(わ)かるのか？」

Jinshi “Ibasho’ga wakaru-no-ka?”

Jinshi “Do you know where she is?!”

羅門「いえ、猫(ねこ)の方(ほう)の毛毛です。ついでに娘(むすめ)も捜(さが)せるかもしれません」

Ruomen “Ie, neko’no-ho’no Maomao desu. Tsuide-ni musume’mo sagaseru-kamo shire-masen.”

Luomen “No, I’m afraid I mean the cat. I may also be able to find my daughter, though.”

壬氏「ん…」

Jinshi “N…”

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高順「猫捜(ねこさが)しが、何(なん)の役(やく)に立(た)つのでしょう？」

Gaoshun “Neko-sagashi’ga, nan’no yaku’ni tatsu-no-desho?”

Gaoshun “What use is there in searching for the cat?”

壬氏「さぁな…」

Jinshi “Saa-na…”

Jinshi “Who knows?”

羅門「まだ新(あたら)しくて香(かお)りが強(つよ)い。いい薬(くすり)です」

Ruomen “Mada atarashikute kaori’ga tsuyoi. Ii kusuri desu.”

Luomen “It’s still fresh and has a strong scent. Good medicine.”

高順「毛毛～、どこにゃ～？にゃ～？」

Gaoshun “Maomaooo, doko-nyaaa? Nyaaa?”

Gaoshun “Maomao, where are you, meow? Meow?”

壬氏（聞(き)かなかったことにしよう…）

Jinshi (Kika-nakatta-koto’ni shiyo…)

Jinshi (I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.)

羅門「猫(ねこ)の行動範囲(こうどうはんい)は、そう広(ひろ)くないのですけどね」

Ruomen “Neko’no kodo-han’I’wa, so hiroku-nai-no-desu-kedo-ne.”

Luomen “Cats don’t travel very far, usually.”

宦官(かんがん)「壬氏様！見(み)つかりました！」

Kangan “Jinshi-sama! Mitsukari-mashita!”

Eunuch “Master Jinshi! I found her!”

壬氏「どこだ？」

Jinshi “Doko-da?”

Jinshi “Where?”

宦官「北側(きたがわ)の雑木林(ぞうきばやし)です！」

Kangan “Kita-gawa’no zoki-bayashi desu!”

Eunuch “In the bushes on the north side!”

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壬氏「寝(ね)ていると言(い)うか、酔(よ)っぱらっている？…この木(き)の実(み)は…」

Jinshi “Nete-iru-to-iuka, yopparatte-iru? …Kono ki’no-mi’wa…”

Jinshi “She’s asleep… or more like, drunk? These berries…”

羅門「私(わたし)が持(も)ってきたものと同(おな)じです。こちらにも、それと…」

Ruomen “Watashi’ga motte-kita mono’to onaji desu. Kochira’nimo, soreto…”

Luomen “They’re the same as the ones I brought along. And over here, as well…”

壬氏「紙(かみ)？……何(なに)も書(か)かれていない」

Jinshi “Kami? ……Nani’mo kakarete-inai.”

Jinshi “Paper? There’s nothing written on it.”

羅門「恐(おそ)らく、猫猫が残(のこ)したのでしょう」

Ruomen “Osoraku, Maomao’ga nokoshita-no-desho.”

Luomen “Probably something Maomao left behind.”

壬氏「しかし、白紙(はくし)では何(なに)を伝(つた)えたいのか…」

Jinshi “Shikashi, hakushi’dewa nani’o tsutae-tai-noka…”

Jinshi “But who knows what she meant if it’s blank.”

羅門「医局(いきょく)に戻(もど)れば、分(わ)かるかもしれません」

Ruomen “Ikyoku’ni modoreba, wakaru-kamo shire-masen.”

Luomen “Perhaps we can find out if we go back to the doctor’s office.”

壬氏（確信(かくしん)が得(え )られるまでは語(かた)らない。猫猫は養父(ようふ)に似(に)たという訳(わけ)か）

Jinshi (Kakushin’ga erareru-made’wa katara-nai. Maomao’wa yofu’ni nita-to-iu-wake-ka.)

Jinshi (He doesn’t speak until he knows for sure. I guess Maomao learned her ways from her adoptive father.)

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羅門「何(なに)も書(か)かれていないように見(み)えますが、昔(むかし)、あの子(こ)が気(き)に入(い)っていた遊(あそ)びがありまして…」

Ruomen “Nani’mo kakarete-inai-yoni mie-masu-ga, mukashi, ano-ko’ga kini-itte-ita asobi’ga ari-mashite…”

Luomen “It seems blank, but… There’s a little trick she enjoyed when she was young.”

壬氏「文字(もじ)が！？」

Jinshi “Moji’ga!?”

Jinshi “Is that text?!”

羅門「果汁(かじゅう)や茶(ちゃ)などを紙(かみ)に付(つ)けて書(か)くと、こうして炙(あぶ)った時(とき)、そこだけがより燃(も)えやすくなるのです。（匂(にお)いを嗅(か)ぐ音(おと)）今回(こんかい)は酒(さけ)を使(つか)ったようですね」

Ruomen “Kaju’ya cha-nado’o kami’ni tsukete kaku-to, ko-shite abutta-toki, soko-dake’ga yori moe-yasuku-naru-no-desu. (Nioi’o kagu oto) Konkai’wa sake’o tsukatta-yo-desu-ne.”

Luomen “Writing on paper using juices, teas, or other fluids makes that part burn faster when putting it over a fire like this. It seems she used alcohol this time.”

虞淵（やぶ医者）「ああ！そういえば、アルコールを何本(なんぼん)か持(も)って行(い)ってたねぇ」

Guen (Yabu-Isha) “Aa! So-ieba, arukōru’o nan-bon-ka motte-itteta-nee.”

Guen (Quack Doctor) “Oh, right! She took a few bottles of alcohol with her, now that I think about it.”

壬氏（最初(さいしょ)に言(い)ってほしい…）

Jinshi (Saisho’ni itte-hoshii…)

Jinshi (You could have told us earlier…)

高順「なぜ、猫(ねこ)の毛毛はあそこで寝(ね)ていたのでしょう？」

Gaoshun “Naze, neko’no Maomao’wa asoko’de nete-ita-no-desho?”

Gaoshun “Why was Maomao the cat sleeping there?”

羅門「これはマタタビと言(い)います。これを茶(ちゃ)にすると、冷(ひ)え性(しょう)や疲労回復(ひろうかいふく)に効果(こうか)があります。猫(ねこ)はこれが好(す)きで、酔(よ)っぱらったようになるんです。猫(ねこ)が目印(めじるし)になると踏(ふ)んで、利用(りよう)したのでしょうね」

Ruomen “Kore’wa matatabi-to ii-masu. Kore’o cha’ni suru-to, hie-sho’ya hiro-kaifuku’ni koka’ga ari-masu. Neko’wa kore’ga suki-de, yopparatta-yoni narun-desu. Neko’ga mejirushi’ni naru-to funde, riyo-shita-no-desho-ne.”

Luomen “This is silvervine. A tea made with this is effective in warming the body and reducing fatigue. Cats love it, and it puts them in a drunk-like state. She probably used it thinking the cat could function as a hint.”

壬氏「見(み)つかる可能性(かのうせい)は低(ひく)いが…羅門殿(ルォメンどの)なら気付(きづ)いてくれると信(しん)じてやったのだろう。１(ひと)つは『祠(ほこら)』か…？もう1つは読(よ)めないな」

Jinshi “Mitsukaru kanosei’wa hikui-ga… Ruomen-dono’nara kizuite-kureru-to shinjite yatta-no-daro. Hitotsu’wa ‘hokora’ka…? Mo-hitotsu’wa yome-nai-na.”

Jinshi “The probability wasn’t high, but she must have trusted that Luomen would notice. Is this character ‘shrine’? The other one… I can’t read it.”

羅門「あの辺(あた)りに祠(ほこら)はありますか？」

Ruomen “Ano-atari’ni hokora’wa ari-masu-ka?”

Luomen “Are there shrines in that area?”

壬氏「後宮(こうきゅう)の北側(きたがわ)には、遷都前(せんとまえ)の古(ふる)い建物(たてもの)がある。捜(さが)させよう。あと一文字(ひともじ)は…」

Jinshi “Kokyu’no kita-gawa’niwa, sento-mae’no furui tate-mono’ga aru. Saga-sase-yo. Ato hito-moji’wa…”

Jinshi “The rear palace’s north side has old buildings from before the capital was moved here. I’ll order a search. The other character is…”

高順「何(なん)でしょう？時間(じかん)がなくて書(か)き殴(なぐ)ったような…」

Gaoshun “Nan-desho? Jikan’ga nakute kaki-nagutta-yona…”

Gaoshun “What could it be? It’s like she rushed through that one.”

壬氏「のっぴきならない状況(じょうきょう)だったのだろうか？」

Jinshi “Noppiki-nara-nai jokyo datta-no-daro-ka?”

Jinshi “Was she in danger?”

羅門「ふっ。さぁ、どうでしょう」

Ruomen “Fu. Saa, do-desho.”

Luomen “Who knows?”

壬氏「心配(しんぱい)ではないのか？」

Jinshi “Shinpai’dewa nai-noka?”

Jinshi “Aren’t you worried?”

羅門「心配(しんぱい)ですよ。ですが、私(わたし)は私にできることをするだけです。気(き)を揉(も)んで、他(ほか)の仕事(しごと)に差(さ)し支(つか)えがあってはいけません。それに、以前(いぜん)は一年近(いちねんちか)く音信不通(おんしんふつう)だったこともありますから」

Ruomen “Shinpai desu-yo. Desu-ga, watashi’wa watashi’ni dekiru-koto’o suru-dake-desu. Ki’o monde, hoka’no shigoto’ni sashi-tsukae’ga atte’wa ike-masen. Sore-ni, izen’wa ichi-nen-chikaku onshin-futsu datta-koto’mo ari-masu-kara.”

Luomen “I am worried. But I can only do what I can do. Being overly concerned and unable to perform my other duties would do no good. Besides, there was a point in time where she went missing for over a year.”

壬氏「う……」（猫猫も、攫(さら)われたばかりの頃(ころ)は、実家(じっか)に連絡(れんらく)も出来(でき)ず、下女(げじょ)として黙々(もくもく)と働(はたら)いていた。やはり似(に)ているな、この2人(ふたり)…。私(わたし)も、私のできることを…！）

Jinshi “U……” (Maomao’mo, sara-wareta-bakari’no koro’wa, jikka’ni renraku’mo dekizu, gejo-to-shite moku-moku-to hataraite-ita. Yahari nite-iru-na, kono futari… Watashi’mo, watashi’no dekiru-koto’o…!)

Jinshi “Back when Maomao was just abducted, she couldn’t contact her family. She just worked diligently as a servant girl. These two really are alike. I, too, must do what I can.)

壬氏「失礼(しつれい)する」

Jinshi “Shitsu-rei-suru.”

Jinshi “Excuse me.”

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

高順「壬氏様」

Gaoshun “Jinshi-sama.”

Gaoshun “Master Jinshi.”

壬氏「あっ…」

Jinshi “A…”

壬氏「フフ…」

Jinshi “Fufu…”

女官たち「あっ…」

Nyokan-tachi “A…”

壬氏（貴人(きじん)として振(ふ)る舞(ま)わねば。私(わたし)にできること…。今(いま)は宦官(かんがん)・壬氏(ジンシ)として、猫猫の行方(ゆくえ)を追(お)うことだ）

Jinshi (Kijin-to-shite furumawa-neba. Watashi’ni dekiru-koto… Ima’wa kangan-Jinshi-to-shite, Maomao’no yukue’o ou-koto-da.)

Jinshi (I must behave like a noble. What can I do? Right now, I must track down Maomao as Jinshi the Eunuch.)

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

鈴麗(リンリー)「みゃうみゃう…フフ」

Rinrī “Myau-myau…fufu.”

紅娘「汚(きたな)い字(じ)です」

Hon’nyan “Kitanai ji-desu.”

Hongniang “This handwriting is a mess.”

玉葉妃「汚(きたな)いというより慌(あわ)てているというか、まともに書(か)ける状況(じょうきょう)ではなかった感(かん)じね」

Gyokuyo-hi “Kitanai-to-iu-yori awatete-iru-to-iuka, matomo-ni kakeru jokyo’dewa nakatta kanji-ne.”

Concubine Gyokuyou “More like she was in a hurry, or not in a situation where she could write calmly.”

紅娘「翼(つばさ)という字(じ)に見(み)えないことも…」

Hon’nyan “Tsubasa-to-iu ji’ni mie-nai-koto’mo…”

Hongniang “It almost looks like ‘wing,’ but…”

玉葉妃「でも下(した)の部分(ぶぶん)は、さっぱりしているわよ」

Gyokuyo-hi “Demo shita’no bubun’wa sappari-shite-iru-wayo.”

Concubine Gyokuyou “But the bottom half isn’t as complex.”

紅娘「猫猫の字(じ)は少(すこ)し癖(くせ)がありますから…みんなも見(み)てちょうだい」

Hon’nyan “Maomao’no ji’wa sukoshi kuse’ga ari-masu-kara… Minna’mo mite-chodai.”

Hongniang “Maomao’s handwriting is a bit unique, so… Could you all take a look, too?”

愛藍(アイラン)「これは『翌(よく)』じゃない？」

Airan “Kore’wa ‘yoku’ja-nai?”

Ailan “Is it ‘next’ like ‘next day’?”

桜花(インファ)「う～ん…似(に)てるけど、何(なに)か違(ちが)わない？」

Infa “Uuun… Niteru-kedo, nanika chigawa-nai?”

Yinghua “It’s similar, but feels different.”

貴園(グイエン)「そうだね…もうちょっと画数(かくすう)がある…」

Guien “So-dane… Mo-chotto kaku-su’ga aru…”

Guiyuan “Yes, it’s a bit more complex.”

黒羽(コクウ)「私(わたし)も…同(おな)じ意見(いけん)です。赤羽(セキウ)はどう思(おも)う？」

Kokuu “Watashi’mo… onaji iken desu. Sekiu’wa do omou?”

Koku-u “I agree. What do you think, Seki-u?”

赤羽「これは…『翠(スイ)』じゃないですか？ほらここ、歪(ゆが)んで見(み)えるけど、まっすぐで…」

Sekiu “Kore’wa… ‘sui’ja nai-desu-ka? Hora koko, yugande mieru-kedo, massugu-de…”

Seki-u “Isn’t this ‘Sui’? See this part? It looks warped, but it could be straight.”

黒羽「確(たし)かに…『翠(スイ)』って、ここが翡翠宮(ひすいきゅう)だから？」

Kokuu “Tashika-ni… ‘sui’tte, koko’ga Hisui-Kyu dakara?”

Koku-u “Right. Sui is used in the word for ‘Jade’ as in ‘Jade Pavilion,’ right?”

白羽(ハクウ)「どういうつもりで書(か)いたのかしら」

Hakuu “Do-iu-tsumori’de kaita-no-kashira.”

Haku-u “I wonder why she wrote that?”

赤羽「シスイ……。あっ」

Sekiu “Shisui…… A.”

Seki-u “Shisui?”

壬氏「それは何(なん)だ？」

Jinshi “Sore’wa nan-da?”

Jinshi “What’s that?”

赤羽「え…えっと！よく猫猫と一緒(いっしょ)にいる下女(げじょ)の名前(なまえ)です。子翠(シスイ)って言(い)って…」

Sekiu “E…Etto! Yoku Maomao’to issho-ni iru gejo’no namae desu. Shisuitte itte…”

Seki-u “Oh, um, it’s the name of a servant girl who hangs out with Maomao a lot. Her name is Shisui.”

壬氏（名前(なまえ)か…。名前なら、もう一人(ひとり)『翠(スイ)』の字(じ)が付(つ)く人物(じんぶつ)がいた）

Jinshi (Namae-ka… Namae-nara, mo-hitori ‘sui’no ji’ga tsuku jinbutsu’ga ita.)

Jinshi (A name… There was another person with ‘Sui’ in their name.)

赤羽「他(ほか)に小蘭(シャオラン)っていう名前(なまえ)の下女(げじょ)��いて、よくつるんでいて…」

Sekiu “Hoka’ni Shaorantte-iu namae’no gejo’mo ite, yoku tsurunde-ite…”

Seki-u “There’s also another girl named Xiaolan. They hung out together a lot.”

壬氏「その下女(げじょ)なら、私(わたし)も何度(なんど)か会(あ)っている。だが、もう一人(ひとり)は聞(き)いたことが…あっ！」

Jinshi “Sono gejo’nara, watashi’mo nando-ka atte-iru. Daga, mo-hitori’wa kiita-koto’ga… A!”

Jinshi “Yes, I’ve met her a few times. But the other one I’ve never even heard of―”

壬氏「子翠という下女(げじょ)を捜(さが)せ！」

Jinshi “Shisui-to-iu gejo’o sagase!”

Jinshi “Find the servant girl named Shisui!”

宦官たち「はっ！」

Kangan-tachi “Ha!”

Eunuchs “Yes, sir!”

高順「壬氏様…」

Gaoshun “Jinshi-sama…”

Gaoshun “Master Jinshi.”

壬氏「ん…」

Jinshi “N…”

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫（流(なが)されてるなぁ…）

Maomao (Naga-sare-teru-naa…)

Maomao (Going with the flow.)

子翠「どこに行(い)くんだろうね」

Shisui “Doko’ni ikun-daro-ne.”

Shisui “I wonder where we’re going.”

猫猫「さあね」

Maomao “Saa-ne.”

Maomao “Who knows?”

翠苓「この娘(むすめ)を助(たす)けたければ従(したが)え」

Suirei “Kono musume’o tasuke-ta-kereba shitagae.”

Suirei “Obey me, if you want to save this girl.”

猫猫（あの場(ば)では翠苓(スイレイ)に従(したが)うしかなかった。もしも断(ことわ)れば、私(わたし)も子翠(シスイ)も危(あぶ)なかった…）

Maomao (Ano-ba’dewa Suirei’ni shitagau-shika nakatta. Moshimo kotowa-reba, watashi’mo Shisui’mo abuna-katta…)

Maomao (I had no choice but to obey Suirei. If I’d resisted, it would have been risky for both Shisui and I.)

猫猫「蘇(よみがえ)りの薬(くすり)に釣(つ)られたわけじゃない…」

Maomao “Yomigaeri’no kusuri’ni tsurareta-wake-ja nai…”

Maomao “I wasn’t won over by the offer of the resurrection potion.”

子翠「えっ、何(なに)？」

Shisui “E, nani?”

Shisui “Hmm? What?”

猫猫（それにしても、後宮(こうきゅう)にあんな抜(ぬ)け道(みち)があったなんて…）

Maomao (Sore-ni-shitemo, kokyu’ni anna nuke-michi’ga atta-nante…)

Maomao (But who knew the rear palace had that secret passage…)

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

翠苓「助(たす)けを呼(よ)ぼうなんて思(おも)うな」

Suirei “Tasuke’o yobo-nante omou-na.”

Suirei “Don’t even think about calling for help.”

猫猫（ここは…子翠と初(はじ)めて会(あ)った場所(ばしょ)の近(ちか)くだ）

Maomao (Koko’wa… Shisui-to hajimete atta basho’no chikaku-da.)

Maomao (This is close to the place I first met Shisui.)

翠苓「深緑(シェンリュ)、見張(みは)っておいてくれ」

Suirei “Shenryu, mihatte-oite-kure.”

Suirei “Shenlü, keep an eye on them.”

深緑「はい」

Shenryu “Hai.”

Shenlü “Yes.”

翠苓「よし、行(い)くぞ」

Suirei “Yoshi, iku-zo.”

Suirei “Good. Let’s go.”

猫猫（ん…！おやじ、気(き)が付(つ)いてくれればいいけど…）

Maomao (N…! Oyaji, ki’ga tsuite-kure-reba ii-kedo…)

Maomao (I hope Dad notices…)

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

翠苓「外(そと)に馬車(ばしゃ)を用意(ようい)してある。これから先(さき)は、売(う)られた村娘(むらむすめ)という体(てい)でいてもらう。そこで着替(きが)えて、港(みなと)まで向(む)かうぞ」

Suirei “Soto’ni basha’o yoi-shite-aru. Kore-kara saki’wa, urareta mura-musume’to-iu-tei’de ite-morau. Soko’de kigaete, minato’made mukau-zo.”

Suirei “I have a carriage waiting on the other side. From here, you’ll pretend to be villagers who were sold off. You’ll get changed there, and we’ll head to the port.”

猫猫（着替(きが)えた時(とき)に、アルコールは見(み)つかってしまった。かろうじて身(み)に着(つ)けられたのは、壬氏様からもらったかんざしだけ…）

Maomao (Kigaeta-toki’ni, arukōru’wa mitsukatte-shimatta. Karojite mini-tsuke-rareta-nowa, Jinshi-sama’kara moratta kanzashi-dake…)

Maomao (They found the alcohol when I got changed. The only thing I was allowed to keep was the hair stick Master Jinshi gave me.)

猫猫（子翠と2人(ふたり)で逃(に)げる算段(さんだん)を立(た)てるべきか…。いや…）

Maomao (Shisui’to futari’de nigeru sandan’o tateru-beki-ka… Iya…)

Maomao (Should I try to plot an escape with Shisui? No…)

猫猫「ハァ…」

Maomao “Haa…”

子翠「ん？…寝(ね)る？」

Shisui “N? …Neru?”

Shisui “Going to sleep?”

猫猫「うん」

Maomao “Un.”

Maomao “Yes.”

子翠「私(わたし)も…」

Shisui “Watashi’mo…”

Shisui “Me, too.”

猫猫（いつもは子供(こども)みたいに賑(にぎ)やかなのに…）

Maomao (Itsumo’wa kodomo-mitai’ni nigiyaka-nanoni…)

Maomao (She’s usually so excited, like a little girl, but…)

猫猫「あ…」

Maomao “A…”

子翠「おやすみ、猫猫」

Shisui “Oyasumi, Maomao.”

Shisui “Good night, Maomao.”

猫猫「おやすみ、子翠」

Maomao “Oyasumi, Shisui.”

Maomao “Good night, Shisui.”

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

翠苓「ここからは少(すこ)し歩(ある)く」

Suirei “Koko-kara’wa sukoshi aruku.”

Suirei “From here, we walk for a while.”

猫猫（船(ふね)を乗(の)り換(か)えること2回(にかい)。川(かわ)に入(はい)ってたんだな。こいつらは護衛(ごえい)か…）

Maomao (Fune’o nori-kaeru-koto ni-kai. Kawa’ni haittetan-dana. Koitsu-ra’wa goei-ka…)

Maomao (We swapped ships twice. I guess we were on a river. These guys must be guards.)

猫猫（おかしいな…。船(ふね)に乗(の)っている時(とき)は、北上(ほくじょう)してると思(おも)っていた。けど、この森(もり)の中(なか)は、暖(あたた)かくて湿度(しつど)が高(たか)い。ここはどこなんだろう？変(か)わった草(くさ)でも生(は)えてないかな…）

Maomao (Okashii-na… Fune’ni notte-iru-toki’wa, hokujo-shiteru-to omotte-ita. Kedo, kono mori’no naka’wa, atataka-kute shitsudo’ga takai. Koko’wa doko-nan-daro? Kawatta kusa-demo haete-nai-kana…)

Maomao (That’s odd. On the ship, it felt like we were going north. But this forest is warm and humid… Where are we? I wonder if there’s some weird plants or anything.)

猫猫「ん？」

Maomao “N?”

翠苓「ハッ！…あぁ…はぁ…」

Suirei “Ha! …Aa…haa…”

猫猫（何(なん)だ？…蛇(へび)か。苦手(にがて)なのかな？それ自体(じたい)はおかしくない。おかしいのは…）

Maomao (Nan-da? …Hebi-ka. Nigate-nano-kana? Sore-jitai’wa okashiku-nai. Okashii-nowa…)

Maomao (What was that? A snake. Maybe she hates snakes. Nothing wrong with that. But what feels out of place is…)

子翠・翠苓「あっ！」

Shisui, Suirei “A!”

翠苓「あっ、あっ…、うわ～！はっ、はっ、あぁ…」

Suirei “A, a… uwaaa! Ha, ha, aa…”

子翠「んっ…」

Shisui “N…”

翠苓「はっ、はっ、はっ…」

Suirei “Ha, ha, ha…”

子翠「大丈夫(だいじょうぶ)。もういないから」

Shisui “Daijobu. Mo inai-kara.”

Shisui “It’s okay. It’s gone now.”

翠苓「はっ…あっ、あっ…」

Suirei “Ha… A, a…”

猫猫（これは、いかん）

Maomao (Kore’wa, ikan.)

Maomao (This is bad.)

翠苓「あっ、あっ、あっ…」

Suirei “A, a, a…”

猫猫「ゆっくり吸(す)って…吐(は)いて」

Maomao “Yukkuri suttee… Haite.”

Maomao “Breathe in, slowly. Now breathe out…”

翠苓「はっ、はっ…、はぁ…」

Suirei “Ha, ha…, haa…”

護衛「おい！お前(まえ)…あっ…」

Goei “Oi! Omae… A…”

Guard “Hey, you!”

猫猫（これで、はっきりした）

Maomao (Kore’de, hakkiri-shita.)

Maomao (Now it’s clear.)

翠苓「はぁ…、はぁ…。どういうつもりだ…？」

Suirei “Haa…, haa… Do-iu-tsumori-da…?”

Suirei “What were you thinking?”

猫猫「ただの嫌(いや)がらせです」

Maomao “Tada-no iya-garase desu.”

Maomao “Just trying to harass you.”

翠苓「それだけには見(み)えなかったが」

Suirei “Sore-dake’niwa mie-nakatta-ga.”

Suirei “It seemed to be more than that.”

猫猫「翠苓。子翠は元(もと)からの知(し)り合(あ)いですね？」

Maomao “Suirei. Shisui’wa moto-kara’no shiri-ai desu-ne?”

Maomao “Suirei, Shisui, you two know each other.”

翠苓「何(なん)のことを言(い)っている？」

Suirei “Nan’no koto’o itte-iru?”

Suirei “What are you talking about?”

猫猫「子翠は、見(み)た目(め)より高等(こうとう)な教育(きょういく)を受(う)けているように思(おも)います。それと端々(はしばし)に育(そだ)ちの良(よ)さが出(で)ていました」

Maomao “Shisui’wa, mita-me-yori koto-na kyoiku’o ukete-iru-yoni omoi-masu. Sore-to hashi-bashi-ni sodachi’no yosa’ga dete-ima-shita.”

Maomao “Shisui gives the impression that she had a much higher degree of education than normal. She also showed signs of a noble upbringing from time to time.”

猫猫（まぁ、そうとは思(おも)わせぬ行動(こうどう)も多(おお)かったけど…）

Maomao (Maa, so-towa omo-wase-nu kodo’mo ookatta-kedo…)

Maomao (Well, she also showed several signs to the contrary too, of course.)

翠苓「そんな下女(げじょ)なら、いくらでもいるだろう。何(なに)せ、軍師殿(ぐんしどの)の娘(むすめ)がいるくらいだからな」

Suirei “Sonna gejo-nara, ikura-demo iru-daro. Nanise, gunshi-dono’no musume’ga iru-kurai-dakara-na.”

Suirei “It’s not rare for a servant to be like that. After all, the strategist’s own daughter is a servant, too.”

猫猫（私(わたし)のことまで調査済(ちょうさず)みか…）

Maomao (Watashi’no koto-made chosa-zumi-ka…)

Maomao (She did her research on me, as well.)

猫猫「子翠。子猫(こねこ)がいきなり隠(かく)し通路(つうろ)から出(で)てきた時(とき)は驚(おどろ)いただろうね。慌(あわ)てて追(お)いかけた挙(あ)げ句(く)、人(ひと)に見(み)つかってしまうくらい」

Maomao “Shisui. Koneko’ga ikinari kakushi-tsuro’kara dete-kita-toki’wa odoroita-daro-ne. Awatete oikaketa-ageku, hito’ni mitsukatte-shimau-kurai.”

Maomao “Shisui, you must have been startled when the kitten jumped out of the secret passage suddenly. So much so that when you gave chase, you accidentally allowed yourself to be found.”

子翠「アッハハハッ。猫猫は鋭(するど)いなぁ～。それで鎌(かま)をかけたんだ。でも、やめてよね。姉様(ねえさま)は蛇(へび)とか大嫌(だいきら)いなんだよ」

Shisui “Ahhahahaha. Maomao’wa surudoi-naaaa. Sorede kama’o kaketanda. Demo, yamete-yone. Neesama’wa hebi-toka dai-kirai-nan-dayo.”

Shisui “You’re really sharp, Maomao. So that’s why you did that, to confirm. But please don’t. My dear sister hates snakes and the like.”

翠苓「名前(なまえ)が安直(あんちょく)過(す)ぎると言(い)っただろう？」

Suirei “Namae’ga anchoku-sugiru-to itta-daro?”

Suirei “I told you your name was too straightforward.”

子翠「他(ほか)の子(こ)は気付(きづ)かなかったも～ん」

Shisui “Hoka’no ko’wa kizuka-nakatta-mooon.”

Shisui “Nobody else noticed.”

猫猫「ん…」（翠苓と子翠。一文字違(ひともじちが)いだもんな…。下女(げじょ)は字(じ)が読(よ)めない者(もの)が多(おお)いから、気(き)にしなかったんだろうけど。それに一つ、謎(なぞ)が解(と)けた。毛毛はどこから入(はい)って来(き)たのか。子翠が湯殿(ゆどの)に通(かよ)っていたのも、ちょうどその頃(ころ)、宦官(かんがん)として湯運(ゆはこ)びをさせられていた翠苓と接触(せっしょく)しやすくするためだ）

Maomao “N…” (Suirei-to Shisui. Hito-moji-chigai-damon-na… Gejo’wa ji’ga yome-nai mono’ga ooi-kara, kini shinakattan-daro-kedo. Soreni hitotsu, nazo’ga toketa. Maomao’wa doko-kara haitte-kita-noka. Shisui’ga yudono’ni kayotte-ita-nomo, chodo sono-koro, kangan-to-shite yu-hakobi’o sase-rarete-ita Suirei’to sesshoku-shiyasuku-suru-tame-da.)

Maomao (‘Suirei’ and ‘Shisui,’ only one character difference. Most of the servant girls can’t read, so I guess nobody noticed. Also, that solved another mystery. Where Maomao the cat came from… It was around the same time as when Shisui was spending time at the baths. She was trying to get in touch with Suirei, who was working as a eunuch, transporting hot water.)

子翠「う～ん…スパイ失格(しっかく)かなぁ？」

Shisui “Uuun… Supai shikkaku-kanaa?”

Shisui “Do I fail as a spy?”

猫猫（この2人(ふたり)はなぜ、私(わたし)を後宮(こうきゅう)から連(つ)れ出(だ)したんだろう。もしかして、あの男(おとこ)の牽制(けんせい)に使(つか)うつもりか？だとすれば、ろくなことにならない気(き)がする…）

Maomao (Kono futari’wa naze, watashi’o kokyu-kara tsure-dashitan-daro. Moshika-shite, ano otoko’no kensei’ni tsukau-tsumori-ka? Dato-sureba, roku-na koto’ni nara-nai ki’ga suru…)

Maomao (Why did they take me out of the rear palace? Are they trying to use me as a bargaining chip against that man? If so, that could end really badly…)

翠苓「行(い)くぞ」

Suirei “Iku-zo.”

Suirei “Let’s go.”

猫猫「あっ」（ここまで来(く)れば、逃(に)げても無駄(むだ)ってことか。…もう一(ひと)つ、確(たし)かめていないことがある。確信(かくしん)はないが、もしかしたら子翠は……）

Maomao “A.” (Koko-made kureba, nigetemo mudatte koto-ka. …Mo-hitotsu, tashikamete-inai-koto’ga aru. Kakushin’wa nai-ga, moshika-shitara Shisui’wa……)

Maomao (I guess at this point, it’s useless to try to run. There’s one more thing I haven’t confirmed yet. I don’t know for sure, but could Shisui be…)

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

翠苓「着(つ)いたぞ」

Suirei “Tsuita-zo.”

Suirei “We’re here.”

猫猫「ん…」

Maomao “N…”

猫猫「こんな所(ところ)に、里(さと)…？ん？あっ…。ハァ…」

Maomao “Konna tokoro’ni, sato…? N? A… Haa…”

Maomao “A village, out here? Hmm?”

猫猫「湯治場(とうじば)？」

Maomao “Toji-ba?”

Maomao “A hot spring resort?”

子翠「うん。でなきゃ、こんなとこに村(むら)なんか造(つく)らないよね」

Shisui “Un. De-nakya, konna toko’ni mura-nanka tsukura-nai-yone.”

Shisui “Yeah, otherwise nobody would build a village out here.”

猫猫「どうりで湿気(しっけ)が多(おお)くて暖(あたた)かいはずだ」

Maomao “Dori’de shikke’ga ookute atatakai-hazu-da.”

Maomao “No wonder it’s hot and humid out here.”

猫猫（あっ…あれは…異国人(いこくじん)？あの髪飾(かみかざ)り…月(つき)の精(せい)の時(とき)の特使(とくし)！？いや、まさかな…）

Maomao (A… Are’wa… ikoku-jin? Ano kami-kazari… Tsuki’no sei’no toki’no tokushi!? Iya, masaka-na…)

Maomao (Is that… a foreigner? That hair accessory… Is that the special envoy from that Moon Spirit thing?! No, it can’t be.)

猫猫「うおっ！」

Maomao “Uo!”

Maomao “Whoa!”

響迂(キョウウ)「いってぇ～！どこ見(み)てんだよ！ボサッと突(つ)っ立(た)ってんじゃねえ！」

Kyo-u “Itteeee! Doko miten-dayo! Bosatto tsuttattenja nee!”

Kyou-u “Ouch! Watch where you’re going! Stop standing there like an idiot!”

猫猫「あ？」

Maomao “A?”

Maomao “Huh?”

響迂「ひっ」

Kyo-u “Hi.”

猫猫（ここが花街(はなまち)だったら、クソガキに一発(いっぱつ)げんこつ落(お)とすとこだけど…）

Maomao (Koko’ga hana-machi-dattara, kuso-gaki’ni ippatsu genkotsu otosu-toko-dakedo…)

Maomao (If this was the pleasure district, I would have given this little shit a good beating…)

子翠「こら！」

Shisui “Kora!”

Shisui “Hey!”

響迂「痛(いて)っ！」

Kyo-u “Ite!”

Kyou-u “Ouch!”

子翠「あんたも前(まえ)見(み)てなかったでしょ？響迂(キョウウ)」

Shisui “Anta’mo mae mite-nakatta-desho? Kyo-u.”

Shisui “You weren’t paying attention either, Kyou-u.”

響迂「あっ、ねーちゃん！フフッ…って、こっちは翠苓ねーちゃんかよ！何(なに)その格好(かっこう)！すげぇ似合(にあ)ってる！」

Kyo-u “A, Neechan! Fufu…tte, kocchi’wa Suirei-Neechan-kayo! Nani sono kakko! Sugee niatteru!”

Kyou-u “Big Sis! Oh, and there’s Suirei, too! What’s with the new look?! It works for you!”

翠苓「うるさい」

Suirei “Urusai.”

Suirei “Shut up.”

猫猫（知(し)り合(あ)いなんだ）

Maomao (Shiri-ai nan-da.)

Maomao (So, they know each other.)

響迂「俺(おれ)さ～、ねーちゃんたちにはもう会(あ)えないって聞(き)いてたけど、あれ、ばあやの嘘(うそ)だったんだな」

Kyo-u “Ore-saaa, Neechan-tachi’niwa mo ae-naitte kiiteta-kedo, are, baaya’no uso dattan-dana.”

Kyou-u “I heard I’d never see you two again. Guess that maid was lying!”

猫猫（『ばあや』ねぇ…。いいとこのボンか）

Maomao (‘Baaya’nee… Ii-toko’no bon-ka.)

Maomao (A maid, huh? I guess he’s from a rich family.)

響迂「あっ、祭(まつ)りか？それで帰(かえ)って来(き)たのか。明日(あした)からだもんな～！」

Kyo-u “A, matsuri-ka? Sorede kaette-kita-noka. Ashita-kara-damon-naaa!”

Kyou-u “Oh, is it for the festival? Is that why you’re back? It’s tomorrow, after all!”

子翠「そうだね。本当(ほんとう)にぴったりに着(つ)くなんて」

Shisui “So-dane. Honto-ni pittari-ni tsuku-nante.”

Shisui “Yeah, I’m glad we made it right on time!”

響迂「祭(まつ)りの提灯(ちょうちん)は用意(ようい)した？」

Kyo-u “Matsuri’no chochin’wa yoi-shita?”

Kyou-u “Did you get a lantern for the festival?”

子翠「今(いま)こっちに戻(もど)ったばかりだよ。いいの残(のこ)ってるかな？」

Shisui “Ima kocchi’ni modotta-bakari-dayo. Ii-no nokotteru-kana?”

Shisui “I just got back. I wonder if there’s any good ones left?”

響迂「見(み)てみよ！こっちこっち！」

Kyo-u “Mite-miyo! Kocchi kocchi!”

Kyou-u “Let’s go check! This way!”

子翠「ハハハッ」

Shisui “Hahaha.”

猫猫（ここは宿(やど)か…。立派(りっぱ)な建物(たてもの)だな…。…あれは確(たし)か、特使(とくし)が連(つ)れていた護衛(ごえい)の一人(ひとり)…？）

Maomao (Koko’wa yado-ka… Rippa-na tate-mono dana… …Are’wa tashika, tokushi’ga tsurete-ita goei’no hitori…?)

Maomao (This must be an inn. Quite an impressive building. Isn’t that one of the guards that the special envoys had?)

翠苓「『なぜ特使(とくし)がいるのか』か？」

Suirei “‘Naze tokushi’ga iru-noka’ka?”

Suirei “Are you wondering why the special envoy is here?”

猫猫「ん？特使(とくし)だとご存知(ぞんじ)なのですか？」

Maomao “N? Tokushi-dato go-zonji nano-desu-ka?”

Maomao “You know about the special envoys?”

翠苓「蘇(よみがえ)った後(あと)にも、いろいろ仕事(しごと)があったからな」

Suirei “Yomigaetta-ato’nimo, iro-iro shigoto’ga atta-kara-na.”

Suirei “I had a lot of work to do after my resurrection.”

猫猫「ん…」

Maomao “N…”

翠苓「死(し)んでも暇(ひま)にならないよ」

Suirei “Shindemo hima-ni nara-nai-yo.”

Suirei “No rest for the dead.”

響迂「ねーちゃ～ん！こっちこっち！」

Kyo-u “Neechaaan! Kocchi kocchi!”

Kyou-u “This way, Big Sis!”

子翠「猫猫も行(い)こ！」

Shisui “Maomao’mo iko!”

Shisui “Let’s go, Maomao!”

猫猫「あっ」

Maomao “A.”

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侍女「あぁ、坊(ぼっ)ちゃん。探(さが)してきましたよ。このくらいで十分(じゅうぶん)でしょうか？」

Jijo “Aa, Bocchan. Sagashite-kimashita-yo. Kono-kurai’de jubun desho-ka?”

Maid “Oh, young sir, I found them. Is this enough?”

響迂「う～ん…そんくらいあればいいかな」

Kyo-u “Uuun… Son-kurai areba ii-kana.”

Kyou-u “Yeah, that looks like enough.”

子翠「うわ～、いいホオズキだね」

Shisui “Uwaaa, ii hoozuki dane.”

Shisui “Oh, these are good lantern plants.”

響迂「ヘヘヘ…。だろ？ねーちゃん、それ好(す)きだから、頑張(がんば)って探(さが)してきたんだ！」

Kyo-u “Hehehe… Daro? Neechan, sore suki-dakara, ganbatte sagashite-kitanda!”

Kyou-u “I know, right? You like those, so I worked hard to find them.”

猫猫（いや、探(さが)したのは侍女(じじょ)だろ？）

Maomao (Iya, sagashita-nowa jijo daro?)

Maomao (More like your maid worked hard to find them.)

子翠「うん、ありがとう。でも、これを集(あつ)めたのは響迂じゃないよね？」

Shisui “Un, arigato. Demo, kore’o atsumeta-nowa Kyo-u-ja nai-yone?”

Shisui “Yes, thank you. But Kyou-u, you didn’t gather these yourself, did you?”

猫猫「うん、うん」

Maomao “Un, un.”

Maomao “Right.”

響迂「ん…うっ、うぅ…、ん…、ん…。ありがとう」

Kyo-u “N… U, uu…, n…, n… Arigato.”

Kyou-u “Thank you.”

侍女「どういたしまして」

Jijo “Do-itashi-mashite.”

Maid “You’re welcome.”

響迂「うわっ！？」

Kyo-u “Uwa!?”

子翠「よくできました～！」

Shisui “Yoku deki-mashitaaa!”

Shisui “Good job!”

響迂「痛(いて)ぇ、痛ぇよ…」

Kyo-u “Itee, itee-yo…”

Kyou-u “Ow! That hurts, Big Sis! Quit it!”

子翠「アハハ…」

Shisui “Ahaha…”

猫猫（少(すこ)しは素直(すなお)なところがあるじゃないか。クソガキから、ただのガキにしてやろう。…祭(まつ)りか…。後宮(こうきゅう)を出(で)て、どのくらい経(た)つんだろう？）

Maomao (Sukoshi’wa sunao-na tokoro’ga aru-ja nai-ka. Kuso-gaki’kara, tada-no gaki’ni shite-yaro. …Matsuri-ka… Kokyu’o dete, dono-kurai tatsun-daro?)

Maomao (He’s got a good side, after all. I’ll upgrade him from ‘little sit’ to just ‘brat.’ A festival, huh? How long have we been away from the rear palace?)

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高順「壬氏様、報告(ほうこく)が上(あ)がりました。紙切(かみき)れがあった雑木林(ぞうきばやし)のそばに、古(ふる)い祠(ほこら)が見(み)つかりました。そこを入口(いりぐち)にして、使(つか)われていない水路(すいろ)を抜(ぬ)け道(みち)にしていたようです」

Gaoshun “Jinshi-sama, hokoku’ga agari-mashita. Kami-kire’ga atta zoki-bayashi’no soba’ni, furui hokora’ga mitsukari-mashita. Soko’o iri-guchi’ni-shite, tsukawarete-inai suiro’o nuke-michi’ni shite-ita-yo-desu.”

Gaoshun “Master Jinshi, we’ve received a report. There was an old shrine near the bushes where the paper was. It was an entrance to an unused waterway that was used as a secret path.”

壬氏「では、猫猫は、後宮(こうきゅう)の外(そと)に出(で)たのだな」

Jinshi “Dewa, Maomao’wa, kokyu’no soto’ni deta-no-dana.”

Jinshi “So, Maomao left the rear palace.”

高順「そうかもしれません。それと、小猫(シャオマオ)が姿(すがた)を消(け)した日(ひ)から、新入(しんい)りの宦官(かんがん)が一人(ひとり)、行方不明(ゆくえふめい)に。それから子翠という名(な)の下女(げじょ)ですが、登録(とうろく)がありませんでした」

Gaoshun “So-kamo shire-masen. Soreto, Shaomao’ga sugata’o keshita hi-kara, shin-iri’no kangan’ga hitori, yukue-fumei-ni. Sore-kara Shisui-to-iu na’no gejo-desu-ga, toroku’ga ari-masen-deshita.”

Gaoshun “Perhaps. Also, one of the new eunuchs went missing the same day Xiaomao disappeared. Finally, regarding the servant named ‘Shisui’… There was no such servant on the registry.”

壬氏「登録(とうろく)がない？」

Jinshi “Toroku’ga nai?”

Jinshi “She’s not on the registry?”

高順「ええ。そのような下女(げじょ)は存在(そんざい)しないと」

Gaoshun “Ee. Sono-yona gejo’wa sonzai-shinai-to.”

Gaoshun “Correct. No such servant exists.”

壬氏「あっ」

Jinshi “A.”

宦官「壬氏様！ぎょ…玉葉妃が！」

Kangan “Jinshi-sama! Gyo…Gyokuyo-hi’ga!”

Eunuch “Master Jinshi! Concubine Gyokuyou is…”

壬氏「ハッ」

Jinshi “Ha.”

高順「ん…」

Gaoshun “N…”

(Continue to Episode 18/Ep.42)

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apothecaryscript · 13 days ago

Text

Memo for Episode 17 (Ep.41) “The Fox Village”

壬氏（多少(たしょう)、暴走(ぼうそう)するところはあるが、玉葉妃の侍女(じじょ)という立場(たちば)で勝手(かって)に持(も)ち場(ば)を離(はな)れれば、処罰(しょばつ)されることは分(わ)かっているはずだ。帰(かえ)るに帰れない状況(じょうきょう)か、あるいは、何(なに)かに巻(ま)き込(こ)まれたか…）

帰るに帰れない（かえるにかえれない/Kaeru-ni kaere-nai）: want to go home but can’t

～するに～できない（～suru-ni ～deki-nai）: want/think/try to do but can’t

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玉葉妃「いくら猫猫でも、大勢(おおぜい)に殴(なぐ)られたりしたら、ひとたまりもないわよね」

Gyokuyo-hi “Ikura Maomao’demo, oozei’ni nagurare-tari-shitara, hito-tamari’mo nai-wayone.”

Concubine Gyokuyou “Not even Maomao could fight back if a whole group came after her, right?”

ひとたまりもない（Hito-tamari’mo nai）: be screwed, helpless to do anything, can’t survive

“Not even Maomao could do anything if many people hit her, right?”

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壬氏「フゥ…。そういえば、今日(きょう)は毛毛(マオマオ)はいないのか？」

Jinshi “Fuu… So-ieba, kyo’wa Maomao’wa inai-noka?”

Jinshi “By the way, where’s Maomao the cat?”

In the original light novel, the reason Jinshi asked it is explained as follows;

「あの毛玉(けだま)を触(さわ)っていれば心(こころ)が落(お)ち着(つ)くと思(おも)ったのに、こんなときにいないのか」

“I thought touching that furball would calm me down, but why is it not here at a time like this?”

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羅門「持(も)って行(い)ったのは、これですか？」

Ruomen “Motte-itta-nowa, kore desu-ka?”

Luomen “Was it this one she took?”

There are so many drawers with no labels on what’s in them, and it’s impressive they remember where everything is!

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高順「毛毛～、どこにゃ～？にゃ～？」

Gaoshun “Maomaooo, doko-nyaaa? Nyaaa?”

Gaoshun “Maomao, where are you, meow? Meow?”

壬氏（聞(き)かなかったことにしよう…）

Jinshi (Kika-nakatta-koto’ni shiyo…)

Jinshi (I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.)

This was my favorite scene in this episode. When Gaoshun and Guen were playing with Maomao the cat, they would end their sentences with “nyaaa” which was omitted in the anime, so I thought this would be omitted as well. However, it was animated! I’m very happy with that.

By the way, the original light novel contains following passage about Jinshi’s thoughts, which I like very much.

「こいつが最近(さいきん)後宮(こうきゅう)に向(む)かうたび、小魚(こざかな)を持(も)って行(い)っていることを知(し)っている」

“I know that recently, whenever he goes to the rear palace, he brings a small fish with him.”

「馬閃(バセン)が見(み)たら、顔(かお)を青(あお)くするに違(ちが)いない。高順(ガオシュン)は息子(むすこ)の前(まえ)では、できるだけ生真面目(きまじめ)な父(ちち)を演(えん)じている」

“If Basen saw this, he would surely turn pale. Gaoshun tries to act like an earnest father in front of his son.”

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Ruomen “Kaju’ya cha-nado’o kami’ni tsukete kaku-to, ko-shite abutta-toki, soko-dake’ga yori moe-yasuku-naru-no-desu. (Nioi’o kagu oto) Konkai’wa sake’o tsukatta-yo-desu-ne.”

Luomen “Writing on paper using juices, teas, or other fluids makes that part burn faster when putting it over a fire like this. It seems she used alcohol this time.”

炙る（あぶる/Aburu）: sear, burn only the surface with flame or heat

We call this trick 炙り出し（あぶりだし/Aburi-dashi） in Japanese.

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高順「何(なん)でしょう？時間(じかん)がなくて書(か)き殴(なぐ)ったような…」

Gaoshun “Nan-desho? Jikan’ga nakute kaki-nagutta-yona…”

Gaoshun “What could it be? It’s like she rushed through that one.”

書き殴る（かきなぐる/Kaki-naguru）: scribble

壬氏「のっぴきならない状況(じょうきょう)だったのだろうか？」

Jinshi “Noppiki-nara-nai jokyo datta-no-daro-ka?”

Jinshi “Was she in danger?”

のっぴきならない(Noppiki-nara-nai): unavoidable, inevitable (in a serious danger or trouble)

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気を揉む（きをもむ/Ki’o momu）: worrying excessively, stressing out, sweating over

差し支える（さしつかえる/Sashi-tsukaeru）・差し支えがある（さしつかえがある/Sashi-tsukae’ga aru）: interfere, hinder

一年近く（いちねんちかく/Ichi-nen-chikaku）: nearly a year

I don’t know why they translated it as “over a year”. I think “over a year” means “more than a year”, but 一年近く means nearly (but less than) a year.

音信不通（おんしんふつう/Onshin-futsu）: lost contact, out of touch, missing in action

音信不通 is not exactly the same as 行方不明（ゆくえふめい/Yukue-fumei）: missing.

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貴園(グイエン)「そうだね…もうちょっと画数(かくすう)がある…」

Guien “So-dane… Mo-chotto kaku-su’ga aru…”

Guiyuan “Yes, it’s a bit more complex.”

画数（かくすう/Kaku-su）: the number of lines drawn, the number of strokes in Kanji

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赤羽「他(ほか)に小蘭(シャオラン)っていう名前(なまえ)の下女(げじょ)もいて、よくつるんでいて…」

Sekiu “Hoka’ni Shaorantte-iu namae’no gejo’mo ite, yoku tsurunde-ite…”

Seki-u “There’s also another girl named Xiaolan. They hung out together a lot.”

つるむ（Tsurumu）: hang out with

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Suirei “Soto’ni basha’o yoi-shite-aru. Kore-kara saki’wa, urareta mura-musume’to-iu-tei’de ite-morau. Soko’de kigaete, minato’made mukau-zo.”

Suirei “I have a carriage waiting on the other side. From here, you’ll pretend to be villagers who were sold off. You’ll get changed there, and we’ll head to the port.”

～という体で（～というていで/～to-iu tei’de）: as if, act like, pretend to be

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

Maomao (Kigaeta-toki’ni, arukōru’wa mitsukatte-shimatta. Karojite mini-tsuke-rareta-nowa, Jinshi-sama’kara moratta kanzashi-dake…)

Maomao (They found the alcohol when I got changed. The only thing I was allowed to keep was the hair stick Master Jinshi gave me.)

かろうじて(Karojite): barely, narrowly

かろうじて身に着けられた（かろうじてみにつけられた/Karojite mi’ni tsuke-rareta）: I managed to wear

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響迂「俺(おれ)さ～、ねーちゃんたちにはもう会(あ)えないって聞(き)いてたけど、あれ、ばあやの嘘(うそ)だったんだな」

Kyo-u “Ore-saaa, Neechan-tachi’niwa mo ae-naitte kiiteta-kedo, are, baaya’no uso dattan-dana.”

Kyou-u “I heard I’d never see you two again. Guess that maid was lying!”

ばあや(Baaya): an old housekeeper, an elderly maid (Suiren is perfect to call ばあや.)

じいや(Jiiya): an old handyman, an elderly manservant

猫猫（『ばあや』ねぇ…。いいとこのボンか）

Maomao (‘Baaya’nee… Ii-toko’no bon-ka.)

Maomao (A maid, huh? I guess he’s from a rich family.)

いいとこのボン（いいとこのぼん/Ii-toko’no bon）: a spoiled rich kid

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子翠「今(いま)こっちに戻(もど)ったばかりだよ。いいの残(のこ)ってるかな？」

Shisui “Ima kocchi’ni modotta-bakari-dayo. Ii-no nokotteru-kana?”

Shisui “I just got back. I wonder if there’s any good ones left?”

の in いいの means one(s). 赤いの（あかいの/Akai-no）: red one 可愛いの（かわいいの/Kawaii-no）: cute one

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

The relationship between Shisui and Suirei has finally been revealed. I like how Shisui’s serious expression changed to her usual cheerful one when Maomao saw through her. In other anime or manga, this is when she would suddenly turn into a villain. When I first read the original novel, I was sure that Shisui was a very good girl, so I was relieved to find out that she was not a villain. For now, even though Maomao has been kidnapped, she does not seem to be in danger, but what will happen…? I really like how Jinshi’s concern for Maomao was carefully portrayed.

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apothecaryscript · 7 days ago

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Episode 18 (Ep.42): Lantern Plant / 第18話（第42話）『鬼灯（ほおずき/Hoozuki）』

壬氏(ジンシ)「失礼(しつれい)」

Jinshi “Shitsu-rei.”

Jinshi “Excuse me.”

紅娘(ホンニャン)「壬氏様(ジンシさま)」

Hon’nyan “Jinshi-sama.”

Hongniang “Master Jinshi.”

壬氏「玉葉妃(ギョクヨウひ)が産気(さんけ)づかれたとか」

Jinshi “Gyokuyo-hi’ga sanke-zukareta-toka.”

Jinshi “I heard Concubine Gyokuyou has gone into labor.”

紅娘「ええ、今朝方(けさがた)から。予定(よてい)には、まだ早(はや)いのですが、一応(いちおう)準備(じゅんび)を…。どうぞ」

Hon’nyan “Ee, kesa-gata-kara. Yotei’niwa mada hayai-no-desuga, ichio junbi’o… Dozo.”

Hongniang “Yes, as of this morning. We expect the actual birth to be a little later, but we’re getting ready anyway. This way.”

壬氏「ご様子(ようす)は？」

Jinshi “Go-yosu’wa?”

Jinshi “How is she?”

羅門(ルォメン)「今(いま)は、落(お)ち着(つ)いています。陣痛(じんつう)も治(おさ)まり、疲弊(ひへい)もないご様子(ようす)です」

Ruomen “Ima’wa, ochi-tsuite-imasu. Jintsu’mo osamari, hihei’mo nai go-yosu-desu.”

Luomen “She’s stable. Her contractions have subsided, and she doesn’t seem to be fatigued.”

壬氏「そうか…」

Jinshi “Soka…”

Jinshi “I see.”

羅門「いつ生(う)まれるかは、まだはっきりしませんが」

Ruomen “Itsu umareru-ka’wa, mada hakkiri-shimasen-ga.”

Luomen “It’s still unclear when the actual birth will take place.”

壬氏「御子(みこ)の状況(じょうきょう)は？」

Jinshi “Miko’no jokyo’wa?”

Jinshi “How is the baby doing?”

羅門「逆子(さかご)の件(けん)でしたら、心配(しんぱい)ありません。猫猫の治療(ちりょう)が功(こう)を奏(そう)したようです」

Ruomen “Sakago’no ken-deshi-tara, shinpai ari-masen. Maomao’no chiryo’ga ko’o so-shita-yodesu.”

Luomen “If you’re talking about the breech birth, that is no longer a concern. It seems like Maomao’s treatments worked.”

壬氏（猫猫……。居場所(いばしょ)が見(み)つからないまま、もう10日(とおか)だ。無事(ぶじ)なのか……）

Jinshi (Maomao…… Ibasho’ga mitsukara-nai-mama, mo tooka-da. Buji-nanoka…)

Jinshi (Maomao… It’s already been ten days since she went missing. Is she alright?)

虞淵(グエン)（やぶ医者(いしゃ)）「る…羅門さん、私も何(なに)か手伝(てつだ)いを…」

Guen (Yabu-Isha) “Ru…Ruomen-san, watashi’mo nani-ka tetsudai’o…”

Guen (Quack Doctor) “L-Luomen, what can I do to help?”

桜花(インファ)「あっ…先生(せんせい)、邪魔(じゃま)です！」

Infa “A… Sensei, jama-desu!”

Yinghua “Doctor, out of the way!”

虞淵（やぶ医者）「ひ、ひぃ…！」

Guen (Yabu-Isha) “Hi, Hii…!”

貴園(グイエン)「入口(いりぐち)に立(た)たないでください！」

Guien “Iri-guchi’ni tata-naide-kudasai!”

Guiyuan “Don’t stand in the doorway, please!”

黒羽(コクウ)「猫(ねこ)でも見(み)ててください」

Kokuu “Neko’demo mitete-kudasai.”

Koku-u “Just look after the cat.”

虞淵（やぶ医者）「は、はい！うっ…う～！」

Guen (Yabu-Isha) “Ha, hai! U…Uuu!”

Guen (Quack Doctor) “Yes!”

壬氏「フッ…」（自分(じぶん)より動揺(どうよう)している者(もの)がいると、多少(たしょう)落(お)ち着(つ)くな…）

Jinshi “Fu…” (Jibun-yori doyo-shite-iru mono’ga iru-to, tasho ochi-tsuku-na…)

Jinshi (It’s a bit reassuring to have someone else more panicked than me around.)

壬氏「では、私(わたし)は一度(いちど)戻(もど)ります。何(なに)かありましたら、知(し)らせを…」

Jinshi “Dewa, watashi’wa ichi-do modori-masu. Nani-ka ari-mashi-tara, shirase’o…”

Jinshi “I’ll depart for now. Please let me know if something happens.”

高順(ガオシュン)「壬氏様！」

Gaoshun “Jinshi-sama!”

Gaoshun “Master Jinshi!”

壬氏「どうした？」

Jinshi “Doshita?”

Jinshi “What is it?”

高順「消(き)えた宦官(かんがん)の件(けん)で、お話(はなし)が」

Gaoshun “Kieta kangan’no ken’de, o-hanashi’ga.”

Gaoshun “It’s about the missing eunuch.”

壬氏「ん…」

Jinshi “N…”

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

壬氏「それで、何(なに)が分(わ)かった？」

Jinshi “Sorede, nani’ga wakatta?”

Jinshi “So, what did you find?”

高順「宦官(かんがん)の名(な)は天(ティェン)。元(もと)は異民族(いみんぞく)の奴隷(どれい)という話(はなし)でしたが、共(とも)に来(き)たはずの者(もの)の誰(だれ)とも面識(めんしき)がなかったそうです。恐(おそ)らく、どこかで紛(まぎ)れ込(こ)んだ者(もの)かと…」

Gaoshun “The eunuch is named Tian. He was supposed to be a slave from a foreign nation, but none of the others who arrived with him were acquainted with him. He must have snuck in somewhere.”

壬氏「後宮(こうきゅう)に入(はい)り込(こ)むためか…」

Jinshi “Kokyu’ni hairi-komu-tame-ka…”

Jinshi “In order to infiltrate the rear palace.”

高順「周(まわ)りと馴染(なじ)まずにいたのも、ボロを出(だ)さないためでしょう。おかげで、情報(じょうほう)もほぼ残(のこ)っていません」

Gaoshun “Mawari’to najimazu-ni ita-nomo, boro’o dasa-nai-tame desho. Okage-de, joho’mo hobo nokotte-ima-sen.”

Gaoshun “He probably kept his distance from the others to maintain that secret. Because of that, we barely have any information on him.”

壬氏「他(ほか)には？」

Jinshi “Hoka’niwa?”

Jinshi “Anything else?”

高順「廟(びょう)に手(て)を合(あ)わせているところを見(み)た者(もの)がおります」

Gaoshun “Byo’ni te’o awasete-iru-tokoro’o mita mono’ga ori-masu.”

Gaoshun “He was seen praying at a shrine.”

壬氏「信心深(しんじんぶか)い者(もの)なら、それくらいするだろう」

Jinshi “Shinjin-bukai mono’nara, sore-kurai suru-daro.”

Jinshi “That’s not strange. Maybe he was just religious.”

高順「ですが…」

Gaoshun “Desu-ga…”

Gaoshun “Well…”

壬氏「ん？…北側(きたがわ)の…墓地(ぼち)」

Jinshi “N? …Kita-gawa’no…bochi.”

Jinshi “The graveyard on the north side?”

高順「はい。先帝(せんてい)のお手付(てつ)きになり、後宮(こうきゅう)で最期(さいご)を迎(むか)えた者(もの)たちの墓(はか)です。天(ティェン)はそこで何者(なにもの)かの墓(はか)の前(まえ)で、手(て)を合(あ)

わせていたようです」

Gaoshun “Hai. Sentei’no otetsuki’ni-nari, kokyu’de saigo’o mukaeta mono-tachi’no haka desu. Tien’wa soko’de nani-mono-ka’no haka’no mae’de, te’o awasete-ita-yodesu.”

Gaoshun “Yes. The graves of those who were deflowered by the late emperor, who died in the rear palace. Tian was seen paying his respects to one of the graves there.”

壬氏（先帝(せんてい)の時代(じだい)に、幼(おさな)くして花(はな)を散(ち)らされた女(おんな)たちは、死後(しご)も後宮(こうきゅう)を出(で)ることが許(ゆる)されない…。その名(な)を記録(きろく)されることもなく…この花園(はなぞの)で消(き)えていく…）

Jinshi (Sentei’no jidai’ni, osanaku-shite hana’o chira-sareta onna-tachi’wa, shigo’mo kokyu’o deru-koto’ga yuru-sare-nai… Sono na’o kiroku-sareru-koto’mo naku… kono hana-zono’de kiete-iku…)

Jinshi (Those who were deflowered by the late emperor at a young age were never allowed to leave the rear palace, even after death. They vanished in this garden, without even a record of their names kept.)

深緑(シェンリュ)「あっ…」

Shenryu “A…”

壬氏「ん？診療所(しんりょうじょ)の女官(にょかん)か？」

Jinshi “N? Shinryo-jo’no nyokan-ka?”

Jinshi “Is that a worker from the clinic?”

深緑「し…失礼(しつれい)します」

Shenryu “Shi…Shitsu-rei-shimasu.”

Shenlü “E-Excuse me.”

壬氏（この匂(にお)い……）

Jinshi (Kono nioi……)

Jinshi (This smell…)

深緑「はっ！」

Shenryu “Ha!”

壬氏「猫猫はどこへ行(い)った！？」

Jinshi “Maomao’wa doko’e itta!?”

Jinshi “Where did Maomao go?!”

深緑「はっ…」

Shenryu “Ha…”

高順「ん…」

Gaoshun “N…”

壬氏「あっ…」（落(お)ち着(つ)け…今(いま)の俺(おれ)は宦官(かんがん)の壬氏だ。いつも通(どお)り……）

Jinshi “A…” (Ochi-tsuke… Ima’no ore’wa kangan’no Jinshi-da. Itsumo-doori…)

Jinshi (Calm down! I’m ‘Jinshi the Eunuch’ right now. I have to be my usual self…)

壬氏「フゥ…。……そばかすの女官(にょかん)、翡翠宮(ひすいきゅう)の侍女(じじょ)について知(し)りたいのだが、心当(こころあ)たりはないか？」

Jinshi “Fuu… ……Sobakasu’no nyokan, Hisui-Kyu’no jijo’ni-tsuite shiri-tai-noda-ga, kokoro-atari’wa nai-ka?”

Jinshi “I’m looking for the freckled lady-in-waiting, the one working for the Jade Pavilion. Do you know who I’m talking about?”

深緑「あ…。あぁ…う…あぁ…！」

Shenryu “A… Aa…u…aa…!”

壬氏「何(なに)か知(し)っているな？」

Jinshi “Nani-ka shitte-iru-na?”

Jinshi “You know something.”

深緑「思(おも)い出(だ)しました…古(ふる)い記憶(きおく)を。お優(やさ)しい声(こえ)で名前(なまえ)を呼(よ)ばれ、甘(あま)い異国(いこく)の菓子(かし)を頂(いただ)きました…」

Shenryu “Omoi-dashi-mashita…furui kioku’o. O-yasashii koe’de namae’o yobare, amai ikoku’no kashi’o itadaki-mashita…”

Shenlü “I have recalled… an old memory. He called my name with such a gentle voice. He gave me sweets from a foreign land.”

壬氏「何(なん)の話(はなし)だ？」

Jinshi “Nan’no hanashi-da?”

Jinshi “What are you talking about?”

深緑「��(みな)、若(わか)い頃(ころ)のあの方(かた)の姿(すがた)を知(し)らないのですね…晩年(ばんねん)は見(み)る影(かげ)もなかったと聞(き)きました。私(わたし)が成長(せいちょう)してからは通(かよ)われることもなく、話(はなし)に聞(き)くのみでしたが…」

Shenryu “Mina, wakai koro’no ano kata’no sugata’o shira-nai-no-desu-ne… Ban-nen’wa miru kage’mo nakatta-to kiki-mashita. Watashi’ga seicho-shite-kara’wa kayowareru-koto’mo naku, hanashi’ni kiku-nomi-deshita-ga…”

Shenlü “I guess nobody knows what he looked like when he was young. I did hear he was completely different during his final years. He never came to see me after I grew up, so all I know about him is through rumors.”

壬氏「誰(だれ)のことだ？」

Jinshi “Dare’no koto-da?”

Jinshi “Who do you mean?”

深緑「あなたはよく似(に)ている…」

Shenryu “Anata’wa yoku nite-iru…”

Shenlü “You look just like him.”

壬氏「何(なん)の話(はなし)をしている！？」

Jinshi “Nan’no hanashi’o shite-iru!?”

Jinshi “What are you talking about?!”

深緑「あの方(かた)もまた、甘(あま)い蜂蜜(はちみつ)のような声(こえ)と、天女(てんにょ)のようなお顔(かお)をしておられました…。どうしてあなたのような方(かた)が、宦官(かんがん)の如(ごと)き真似(まね)をしているのですか？」

Shenryu “Ano kata’mo mata, amai hachi-mitsu’no-yona koe’to, ten’nyo’no-yona o-kao’o shite-orare-mashita… Doshite anata’no-yona kata’ga, kangan’no-gotoki mane’o shite-iru-no-desu-ka?”

Shenlü “He too had a voice as sweet as honey, and a face like a beautiful goddess. Why is someone of your status pretending to be a eunuch?”

壬氏「はっ」

Jinshi “Ha.”

深緑「はぁ…！」

Shenryu “Haa…!”

高順「取(と)り押(お)さえろ！」

Gaoshun “Tori-osaero!”

Gaoshun “Arrest her!”

深緑「あっ…離(はな)して！」

Shenryu “A… Hanashite!”

Shenlü “Let me go!”

高順「暴(あば)れるな！…壬氏様！どうします？ …壬氏様？」

Gaoshun “Abareru-na! …Jinshi-sama! Do-shimasu? …Jinshi-sama?”

Gaoshun “Stop resisting! Master Jinshi, what should we do? Master Jinshi?!”

宦官「あっ！？」

Kangan “A!?”

深緑「うっ…うぅ…あぁ……」

Shenryu “U…uu…aa……”

高順「何(なに)！？毒(どく)か！？」

Gaoshun “Nani!? Doku-ka!?”

Gaoshun “What was that?! Poison?!”

深緑「う…、あぁ……」

Shenryu “U…, aa……”

高順「水(みず)を持(も)って来(こ)い！」

Gaoshun “Mizu’o motte-koi!”

Gaoshun “Bring water!”

宦官「はっ！」

Kangan “Ha!”

Eunuch “Yes!”

高順「壬氏様、ご指示(しじ)を！」

Gaoshun “Jinshi-sama, go-shiji’o!”

Gaoshun “Master Jinshi, your instructions!”

宦官「んっ…」

Kangan “N…”

高順「壬氏様！！」

Gaoshun “Jinshi-sama!!”

Gaoshun “Master Jinshi!”

壬氏「あっ…」

Jinshi “A…”

高順「この女官(にょかん)を医局(いきょく)へ。同(おな)じ真似(まね)をしないよう、見張(みは)っておけ！」

Gaoshun “Kono nyokan’o ikyoku’e. Onaji mane’o shinai-yo, mihatte-oke!”

Gaoshun “Take this woman to the doctor’s office. Make sure she doesn’t do that again!”

宦官「はっ！」

Kangan “Ha!”

Eunuch “Yes, sir!”

高順「しっかりなさいませ！女官(にょかん)の戯(たわむ)れなど気(き)にしてどうします！」

Gaoshun “Shikkari nasai-mase! Nyokan’no tawamure-nado ki’ni-shite do-shimasu!”

Gaoshun “Please snap out of it! Don’t let some servant’s casual insult shake you!”

壬氏「…戯(たわむ)れ？…戯れで毒(どく)を飲(の)み干(ほ)すか？…笑(わら)いかけた俺(おれ)の顔(かお)を見(み)て、青(あお)ざめていた…」

Jinshi “…Tawamure? …Tawamure’de doku’o nomi-hosu-ka? …Warai-kaketa ore’no kao’o mite, aozamete-ita…”

Jinshi “Casual? She drank poison. It seems more serious than that. She went pale when she saw me smile at her.”

深緑「あの方(かた)もまた…」

Shenryu “Ano kata’mo mata…”

Shenlü “He too…”

壬氏「高順。俺(おれ)は、あの方(かた)に似(に)ているか？恐怖(きょうふ)させ、毒(どく)をあおらせるほど……」

Jinshi “Gaoshun. Ore’wa, ano kata’ni nite-iru-ka? Kyofu-sase, doku’o aoraseru-hodo…”

Jinshi “Gaoshun, do I look like him? Enough to make someone drink poison out of fear?”

高順「ん…」

Gaoshun “N…”

壬氏「俺(おれ)の中(なか)にあるあの方(かた)は、既(すで)に老人(ろうじん)のようだった。母(はは)にも似(に)ず、兄(あに)にも似(に)なかった。だから…だから信(しん)じた」

Jinshi “Ore’no naka’ni aru ano kata’wa, sude-ni rojin’no-yo-datta. Haha’nimo nizu, ani’nimo ninakatta. Dakara…dakara shinjita.”

Jinshi “In my memory, he was already a withered old man. I didn’t look like my mother or my brother. So… So, I believed.”

侍女「どなたに似(に)たのかしら？帝(みかど)の好(この)みを考(かんが)えたら…皇后様(こうごうさま)のお年(とし)じゃねぇ…」

Jijo “Donata’ni nita-no-kashira? Mikado’no konomi’o kangae-tara… kogo-sama’no otoshi-ja-nee…”

Lady-in-waiting “I wonder where he got his looks from? Given the emperor’s tastes, it couldn’t be the empress, not at her age.”

侍女「ウフフ…だから言(い)われてるんじゃない、『不義(ふぎ)の子(こ)』って。ウフフ…」

Jijo “Ufufu… Dakara iwarete-irun-ja nai, ‘fugi’no ko’tte. Ufufu…”

Lady-in-waiting “That’s why everyone’s saying he’s an illegitimate child.”

幼い壬氏「ん…うぅ…」

Osanai Jinshi “N…Uu…”

Jinshi “Ha…” (Chi’no tsunagari’ga nai-to-iu uwasa’o shinji, togu’no chi’I’kara nogare-yoto shita… Mikado’de-aru ani’ni tanomi-komi, kangan’no na’o ete onna’no sono’ni iru-nowa, nan’no-tame-ka… Kokkei-to-iu-hoka nai……)

羅門「私(わたし)は、私にできることを…」

Ruomen “Watashi’wa, watashi’ni dekiru-koto’o…”

Luomen “But I can only do…”

猫猫「…するだけです」

Maomao “…suru-dake-desu.”

Maomao “…what I can do.”

壬氏（そうだ。自分(じぶん)を笑(わら)うのは後(あと)だ。今(いま)はやるべきことがある）

Jinshi (Soda. Jibun’o warau-nowa ato-da. Ima’wa yaru-beki-koto’ga aru.)

Jinshi (Right. I can laugh at myself later. For now, I have things to do.)

壬氏「あの女官(にょかん)、この墓(はか)に手(て)を合(あ)わせていたな」

Jinshi “Ano nyokan, kono haka’ni te’o awasete-ita-na.”

Jinshi “That woman was paying her respects to this grave, correct?”

高順「はい」

Gaoshun “Hai.”

Gaoshun “Yes.”

壬氏「鬼灯(ほおずき)とは、季節外(きせつはず)れだな…。『大宝(タイホウ)』……」

Jinshi “Hoozuki-towa, kisetsu-hazure-dana… ‘Taiho’……”

Jinshi “Lantern plant? This isn’t in season. Taihou…”

高順「去年(きょねん)亡(な)くなった女官(にょかん)の名(な)です」

Gaoshun “Kyonen naku-natta nyokan’no na-desu.”

Gaoshun “The name of a court lady who passed away last year.”

壬氏「ああ。よく人(ひと)を集(あつ)めて、怪談話(かいだんばなし)をしていたな。…確(たし)か、とある妃(きさき)の侍女(じじょ)だった…。身内(みうち)は……」

Jinshi “Aa. Yoku hito’o atsumete, kaidan-banashi’o shite-ita-na. …Tashika, to-aru kisaki’no jijo-datta… Miuchi’wa……”

Jinshi “Yes. She used to gather women around to tell ghost stories. She was the lady-in-waiting to one of the concubines. Her relatives were…”

壬氏（大宝(タイホウ)の血(ち)を引(ひ)く者(もの)は、ただ一人(ひとり)。先帝(せんてい)の時代(じだい)、医官(いかん)との密通(みっつう)により生(う)まれた娘(むすめ)だ。その娘(むすめ)が生(い)きていれば……）

Jinshi (Taiho’no chi’o hiku mono’wa, tada-hitori. Sentei’no jidai, ikan’tono mittsu’ni-yori umareta musume-da. Sono musume’ga ikite-ireba……)

Jinshi (Only one person is related to Taihou by blood. During the late emperor’s reign, she gave birth to a daughter after an affair with a doctor. If that daughter is still alive…)

壬氏「はっ！」

Jinshi “Ha!”

高順「どちらへ？」

Gaoshun “Dochira’e?”

Gaoshun “Where are you going?”

壬氏「柘榴宮(ざくろきゅう)だ」

Jinshi “Zakuro-Kyu-da.”

Jinshi “The Garnet Pavilion.”

壬氏（大宝(タイホウ)の仕(つか)えていた妃(きさき)は、後(のち)に子昌(シショウ)に下賜(かし)され、娘(むすめ)を産(う)んだ。その娘(むすめ)が楼蘭妃(ロウランひ)だ。そして、大宝(タイホウ)と医官(いかん)との間(あいだ)にできた娘(むすめ)だが、後宮(こうきゅう)を追放(ついほう)された医官(いかん)と共(とも)に、消息(しょうそく)は分(わ)かっていない…。楼蘭妃ならば、医官と娘の行方(ゆくえ)について、何(なに)か知(し)っているかもしれない。ただの直感(ちょっかん)だ。本当(ほんとう)に繋(つな)がりがあるのかは分(わ)からない。それでも……）

Jinshi (Taiho’no tsukaete-ita kisaki’wa, nochi-ni Shisho’ni kashi-sare, musume’o unda. Sono musume’ga Roran-hi-da. Soshite, Taiho’to ikan’tono aida’ni dekita musume-daga, kokyu’o tsuiho-sareta ikan’to-tomoni, shosoku’wa wakatte-inai… Roran-hi-naraba, ikan’to musume’no yukue’ni-tsuite, nani-ka shitte-iru-kamo shire-nai. Tada’no chokkan-da. Honto-ni tsunagari’ga aru-noka’wa wakara-nai. Sore-demo……)

Jinshi (The concubine that Taihou served was later given to Shishou. She gave birth to a daughter. That daughter is Concubine Loulan. As for the daughter of Taihou and the doctor, there’s no record of what happened to either her or the doctor, who was ousted from the rear palace. Perhaps Concubine Loulan knows where the doctor and the daughter went. It’s just a hunch. There’s no way to know if there’s even a connection. But, still…)

侍女「どうぞ」

Jijo “Dozo.”

Lady-in-waiting “Please.”

壬氏（やれることは…全(すべ)てやる！）

Jinshi (Yareru-koto’wa…subete yaru!)

Jinshi (I will do everything I can.)

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壬氏「急(きゅう)に訪(たず)ねて申(もう)し訳(わけ)ありません」

Jinshi “Kyu-ni tazunete moshi-wake ari-masen.”

Jinshi “My apologies for the sudden visit.”

侍女頭(じじょがしら)「『構(かま)いません』とのことです」

Jijo-gashira “‘Kamai-masen’tono-koto-desu.”

Head lady-in-waiting “She says she doesn’t mind.”

壬氏「ありがとうございます」

Jinshi “Arigato gozai-masu.”

Jinshi “Thank you.”

壬氏（いつもながら奇妙(きみょう)な…派手(はで)な格好(かっこう)に、まなじりの吊(つ)り上(あ)がった揃(そろ)いの化粧(けしょう)。…まるで狐(きつね)だ）

Jinshi (Itsumo-nagara kimyo-na…hade-na kakko’ni, manajiri’no tsuri-agatta soroi’no kesho. …Marude kitsune-da.)

Jinshi (How strange, as always. Flashy outfits and matching makeup with sharp points at the corners of their eyes… It makes them look like foxes.)

壬氏「本日(ほんじつ)は、お伺(うかが)いしたいことがありまし…」

Jinshi “Hon-jitsu’wa, o-ukagai-shitai-koto’ga ari-mashi…”

Jinshi “I had a question for you―”

高順「はっ…、壬氏様！」

Gaoshun “Ha…, Jinshi-sama!”

Gaoshun “Master Jinshi?!”

楼蘭妃「あっ…はっ！」

Roran-hi “A…ha!”

侍女頭「何を！？」

Jijo-gashira “Nani’o!?”

Head lady-in-waiting “What are you doing?!”

楼蘭妃「う…、はっ…」

Roran-hi “U…, ha…”

壬氏「確(たし)か…侍女(じじょ)は7人(しちにん)いましたね。もう一人(ひとり)は、どうしました？」

Jinshi “Tashika…jijo’wa shichi-nin imashita-ne. Mo-hitori’wa, do-shima-shita?”

Jinshi “You used to have seven ladies-in-waiting. Where did the last one go?”

壬氏「私(わたし)は、宮(みや)に仕(つか)える侍女(じじょ)たちの名前(なまえ)と顔(かお)を把握(はあく)しています。あなたたちは毎日(まいにち)のように服(ふく)や化粧(けしょう)が変(か)わるので…、分(わ)かりやすい部分(ぶぶん)で記憶(きおく)していたんです。例(たと)えば、唇(くちびる)の形(かたち)や、目(め)の形(かたち)…。あとは、そう…。ほくろの位置(いち)」

Jinshi “Watashi’wa, miya’ni tsukaeru jijo-tachi’no namae’to kao’o haaku-shite-imasu. Anata-tachi’wa mai-nichi’no-yoni fuku’ya kesho’ga kawaru-node…, wakari-yasui bubun’de kioku-shite-itan-desu. Tatoeba, kuchibiru’no katachi’ya me’no katachi… Ato’wa, so… Hokuro’no ichi.”

Jinshi “I keep track of the faces and names of all of the ladies-in-waiting working here. Your group changes outfits and makeup almost every day, so I made note of features that were easy to track. For example, the shapes of your lips or eyes, and also… The positions of your moles.”

壬氏「双凛(ソウリン)…、いや、漣風(レンプウ)かな。お前(まえ)の名(な)は」

Jinshi “Sorin…, iya, Renpu-kana. Omae’no na’wa.”

Jinshi “Sourin…no, Renpu, was it? That’s your name.”

楼蘭妃「あぁ…」

Roran-hi “Aa…”

壬氏「最初(さいしょ)から仕組(しく)んでいたな。大量(たいりょう)の従者(じゅうしゃ)を連(つ)れ、自分(じぶん)とよく似(に)た侍女(じじょ)ばかり選(えら)んだのも、奇抜(きばつ)な格好(かっこう)や化粧(けしょう)をしていたのも…全(すべ)て…このためか…」

Jinshi “Saisho’kara shikunde-ita-na. Tairyo’no jusha’o tsure, jibun’to yoku nita jijo-bakari eranda-nomo, kibatsu-na kakko’ya kesho’o shite-ita-nomo…subete…kono-tame-ka…”

Jinshi “This was planned all along, wasn’t it? Bringing in a huge number of servants, selecting similar-looking women to serve her… The strange outfits and makeup. All for this.”

楼蘭妃「あ…はっ…」

Roran-hi “A…ha…”

双凛(ソウリン)「じ…、壬氏さ…」

Sorin “Ji…, Jinshi-sa…”

Sorin “M-Master Jinshi―”

壬氏「言(い)え！本物(ほんもの)はどこへ行(い)った？」

Jinshi “Ie! Hon-mono’wa doko’e itta?”

Jinshi “Speak! Where is she?”

楼蘭妃（漣風(レンプウ)）「うぅ…あ…」

Roran-hi (Renpu) “Uu… A…”

壬氏「どこへ行(い)った」

Jinshi “Doko’e itta.”

Jinshi “Where did she go?”

楼蘭妃（漣風）「あぁ…うぅ…うぅ…」

Roran-hi (Renpu) “Aa…uu…uu…”

壬氏「楼蘭妃はどこへ行(い)った！？」

Jinshi “Roran-hi’wa doko’e itta!?”

Jinshi “Where did Concubine Loulan go?!”

双凛(ソウリン)「申(もう)し訳(わけ)ありません！漣風(レンプウ)は、本当(ほんとう)に何(なに)も知(し)らないのです。もう…、ご容赦(ようしゃ)ください…」

Sorin “Moshi-wake ari-masen! Renpu’wa, honto-ni nani-mo shira-nai-no-desu. Mo…, go-yosha-kuda-sai…”

Sorin “Please forgive her! Renpu really doesn’t know anything. Please, forgive her…”

壬氏「ハァ…」（くそ、落(お)ち着(つ)け…）

Jinshi “Haa…” (Kuso, ochi-tsuke…)

Jinshi (Damn it. Calm down.)

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壬氏「では、どこへ行(い)くとは聞(き)いていないんだな？」

Jinshi “Dewa, doko’e iku-towa kiite-inain-dana?”

Jinshi “So, she didn’t tell you where she was going?”

侍女頭「はい。もう戻(もど)らないと言(い)われました」

Jijo-gashira “Hai. Mo modora-nai-to iware-mashita.”

Head lady-in-waiting “No. Only that she wouldn’t be returning.”

壬氏「上級妃(じょうきゅうひ)が自分(じぶん)の意思(いし)で後宮(こうきゅう)を抜(ぬ)け出(だ)したということか」

Jinshi “Jokyu-hi’ga jibun’no ishi’de kokyu’o nuke-dashita-to-iu-koto-ka.”

Jinshi “A high-ranking concubine left the rear palace of her own free will.”

壬氏（これ以上(いじょう)問(と)い詰(つ)めても、無駄(むだ)か……）

Jinshi (Kore-ijo toi-tsume-temo, muda-ka……)

Jinshi (There’s no value in continuing to question them.)

高順「うむ。…総出(そうで)で捜(さが)していますが、楼蘭妃らしき人物(じんぶつ)は見当(みあ)たらないと」

Gaoshun “Umu. …Sode-de sagashite-imasu-ga, Roran-hi-rashiki jinbutsu’wa miatara-nai-to.”

Gaoshun “We have every available person on the search, but are unable to locate Concubine Loulan.”

壬氏「もう妃(きさき)と呼(よ)ぶ必要(ひつよう)はない」

Jinshi “Mo kisaki-to yobu hitsuyo’wa nai.”

Jinshi “There’s no need to call her ‘Concubine’ anymore.”

高順「あ……」

Gaoshun “A……”

壬氏「後宮(こうきゅう)からの逃走(とうそう)は重罪(じゅうざい)だ。上級妃(じょうきゅうひ)となれば、なおのこと…。承知(しょうち)の上(うえ)で計画(けいかく)したのだろう」

Jinshi “Kokyu’kara’no toso’wa juzai-da. Jokyu-hi-to-nareba, nao’no-koto… Shochi’no ue’de keikaku-shita-no-daro.”

Jinshi “Leaving the rear palace is a serious crime. Especially for a high-ranking concubine. She must have planned this knowing that.”

高順「はっ…」

Gaoshun “Ha…”

Gaoshun “Yes…”

壬氏（高官(こうかん)の娘(むすめ)を後宮(こうきゅう)に入(い)れるということは、帝(みかど)にとっても利(り)がある行為(こうい)だ。人質(ひとじち)として、後宮(こうきゅう)という鳥籠(とりかご)に閉(と)じ込(こ)めることができる。子昌(シショウ)は、娘(むすめ)を可愛(かわい)がっていたように見(み)えた。だが、実(じつ)のところは、どうだったのか…。猫猫は、どうだったんだろうな…。妓女(ぎじょ)の足抜(あしぬ)けのようだと、いつだったか言(い)っていたが…。自(みずか)らついていったのか？だが、それなら書(か)き置(お)きなど残(のこ)さない。一体(いったい)どこへ、何(なん)のために……）

Jinshi (Kokan’no musume’o kokyu’ni ireru-to-iu-koto’wa, mikado’ni-totte’mo ri’ga aru koi-da. Hito-jichi-to-shite, kokyu-to-iu tori-kago’ni toji-komeru-koto’ga dekiru. Shisho’wa, musume’o kawai-gatte-ita-yoni mieta. Daga, jitsu’no tokoro’wa, do-datta-noka… Maomao’wa, do-dattan-daro-na… Gijo’no ashi-nuke’no-yoda-to, itsu-datta-ka itte-ita-ga… Mizukara tsuite-itta-noka? Daga, sore-nara kaki-oki-nado nokosa-nai. Ittai doko’e, nan’no tame-ni……)

Jinshi (Bringing the daughter of a high-ranking official into the rear palace is a deal that benefits the emperor, as well. He can trap them in the birdcage that is the rear palace as a hostage. Shishou seemed to care for his daughter a lot. But who knows how he really felt? I wonder how it was for Maomao. She said one time that it’s like a courtesan trying to quit. Did she go with them willingly? No, if she had, she wouldn’t have left a note like that. Where did she go, and why?)

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羅漢(ラカン)「何(なに)……？猫猫が……行方不明(ゆくえふめい)……？」

Rakan “Nani……? Maomao’ga……yukue-fumei……?”

Lakan “What? Maomao is… missing…?”

音操(オンソウ)「わっ！？」

Onso “Wa!?”

羅漢「ぬお～～～！！待(ま)ってろ、猫猫～！！今(いま)、パパが助(たす)けるぞ～～～～～！！」

Rakan “Nuooooooo!! Mattero, Maomaooo!! Ima, papa’ga tasukeru-zooooooooooo!!”

Lakan “Wait for me, Maomao! Papa’s coming to rescue you!”

音操「ギャ～～～！！羅漢様～～～！！」

Onso “Gyaaaaaaa!! Rakan-samaaaaaaa!!”

Onsou “Master Lakan!”

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壬氏「なぜバレた…？」

Jinshi “Naze bareta…?”

Jinshi “How did he find out?”

馬閃(バセン)「どこぞで外部(がいぶ)に漏(も)れたようです」

Basen “Dokozo’de gai-bu’ni moreta-yodesu.”

Basen “It seems to have leaked out somehow.”

壬氏「ハァ～…」

Jinshi “Haaa…”

馬閃「それと、現在(げんざい)子昌(シショウ)の足取(あしど)りがつかめません」

Basen “Sore-to, genzai Shisho’no ashi-dori’ga tsukame-masen.”

Basen “Also, Shishou is currently missing.”

壬氏「ん…」

Jinshi “N…”

馬閃「楼蘭(ロウラン)と共謀(きょうぼう)していたのでしょうか」

Basen “Roran’to kyobo-shite-ita-no-desho-ka.”

Basen “Was he colluding with Loulan?”

壬氏「分(わ)からん。だが、逃亡(とうぼう)した妃(きさき)の父親(ちちおや)だ。帝(みかど)に仇(あだ)なす者(もの)として、罪(つみ)が及(およ)ぶことになる」

Jinshi “Wakaran. Daga, tobo-shita kisaki’no chichi-oya-da. Mikado’ni ada-nasu mono-to-shite, tsumi’ga oyobu-koto’ni naru.”

Jinshi “I don’t know. But he is the father of an escaped concubine. He will be charged with crimes against the emperor.”

馬閃「そう…ですね…。ああ…あと、昨日(きのう)の女官(にょかん)、深緑(シェンリュ)ですが…命(いのち)を取(と)り留(と)めたようです」

Basen “So…desu-ne… Aa…ato, kino’no nyokan, Shenryu-desu-ga…inochi’o tori-tometa-yodesu.”

Basen “I understand. Oh, and, regarding the court lady from yesterday… Shenlü. She’s no longer in mortal danger.”

壬氏「意識(いしき)は？」

Jinshi “Ishiki’wa?”

Jinshi “Is she awake?”

馬閃「まだ戻(もど)っていません。ただ、大宝(タイホウ)と面識(めんしき)があったと、調(しら)べがついております。謀反(むほん)に加担(かたん)したのは、その繋(つな)がりかと」

Basen “Mada modotte-ima-sen. Tada, Taiho’to menshiki’ga atta-to, shirabe’ga tsuite-ori-masu. Muhon’ni katan-shita-nowa, sono tsunagari-kato.”

Basen “No, not yet. However, we’ve confirmed that she had connections to Taihou. That’s probably why she participated in this rebellion.”

壬氏「診療所(しんりょうじょ)全員(ぜんいん)か？」

Jinshi “Shinryo-jo zen’in-ka?”

Jinshi “Is everyone in the clinic part of this?”

馬閃「いえ。他(ほか)の者(もの)は、謀反(むほん)について何(なに)も知(し)りませんでした」

Basen “Ie. Hoka’no mono’wa, muhon’ni-tsuite nani’mo shiri-masen-deshita.”

Basen “No, none of the others knew about it.”

壬氏（それでも協力(きょうりょく)したのは、皆(みな)が深緑(シェンリュ)と同(おな)じ恨(うら)みを持(も)っていたからか…。先帝(せんてい)亡(な)き今(いま)、女(おんな)たちの恨(うら)みが向(む)かう先(さき)は、後宮(こうきゅう)そのものだ…）

Jinshi (Sore-demo kyoryoku-shita-nowa, mina’ga Shenryu’to onaji urami’o motte-ita-kara-ka… Sentei-naki-ima, onna-tachi’no urami’ga mukau-saki’wa, kokyu-sono-mono-da…)

Jinshi (Yet they helped her, probably because they all shared the resentment Shenlü held. With the late emperor gone, their anger is directed toward the rear palace itself.)

壬氏（今(いま)すぐ楼蘭(ロウラン)を捜(さが)さねば。だが、情報(じょうほう)が少(すく)な過(す)ぎる…。先(さき)に子昌(シショウ)を追(お)うべきか？いや…それはもう別(べつ)の者(もの)が…）

Jinshi (Ima-sugu Roran’o sagasa-neba. Daga, joho’ga sukuna-sugiru… Saki’ni Shisho’o ou-beki-ka? Iya… sore’wa mo betsu-no mono’ga…)

Jinshi (I must find Loulan immediately, but there’s just not enough information. Should I go after Shishou first? No, someone else is doing that already.)

壬氏「ん…。（扉(とびら)を叩(たた)く音(おと)）ん？」

Jinshi “N… (Tobira’o tataku oto) N?”

馬閃「誰(だれ)でしょうか？」

Basen “Dare-desho-ka?”

Basen “Who could that be?”

壬氏「入(はい)れ」

Jinshi “Haire.”

Jinshi “Enter.”

羅半(ラハン)「失礼(しつれい)いたします」

Rahan “Shitsu-rei-itashi-masu.”

Lahan “Excuse me.”

壬氏（…算盤(そろばん)？）

Jinshi (…Soro-ban?)

Jinshi (An abacus?)

馬閃「何用(なによう)だ？」

Basen “Nani-yo-da?”

Basen “What do you want?”

羅半「初(はじ)めてお目(め)にかかります。漢羅半(カンラハン)と申(もう)します」

Rahan “Hajimete ome’ni kakari-masu. Kan Rahan-to moshi-masu.”

Lahan “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Kan Lahan.”

壬氏（外廷内(がいていない)で『羅(ラ)』の名(な)を持(も)つ者(もの)は、羅漢(ラカン)と羅半(ラハン)、2人(ふたり)しかいない。古(ふる)く皇族(こうぞく)から与(あた)えられた字(あざな)のはず…）

Jinshi (Gaitei-nai’de ‘Ra’no na’o motsu mono’wa, Rakan’to Rahan, futari-shika inai. Furuku kozoku’kara atae-rareta azana’no hazu…)

Jinshi (There are only two people with the ‘La’ name in the outer court: Lakan and Lahan. It’s a courtesy name, historically given by the imperial family.)

壬氏「羅(ラ)の一族(いちぞく)…軍師殿(ぐんしどの)の養子(ようし)だな。何(なに)か用(よう)か？」

Jinshi “‘Ra’no ichi-zoku… Gunshi-dono’no yoshi-dana. Nani-ka yo-ka?”

Jinshi “A member of the La family. You must be the strategist’s adopted son. What do you want?”

羅半「こちらをお見(み)せしようと思(おも)いまして…」

Rahan “Kochira’o omise-shiyo-to omoi-mashite…”

Lahan “I wanted to show you this.”

壬氏「これは……」

Jinshi “Kore’wa……”

Jinshi “This is…”

羅半「どうでしょうか…？」

Rahan “Do-desho-ka…?”

Lahan “What do you think?”

壬氏「国庫(こっこ)の出納帳(すいとうちょう)だな」

Jinshi “Kokko’no suito-cho dana.”

Jinshi “A receipt journal for the national treasury.”

羅半「はい。養父上(ちちうえ)から調(しら)べろと言(い)われたものです。飛発(フェイファ)の出(で)どころが分(わ)からないのが、気持(きも)ち悪(わる)いようでして」

Rahan “Hai. Chichi-ue’kara shirabero-to iwareta-mono-desu. Feifa’no de-dokoro’ga wakara-nai-noga, kimochi-warui-yo-deshite.”

Lahan “Yes. My father told me to look into it. It didn’t sit well with him that we can’t find where the feifa came from.”

壬氏「そこからなぜ国庫(こっこ)に？」

Jinshi “Soko’kara naze kokko-ni?”

Jinshi “How did that lead to the national treasury?”

羅半「処罰(しょばつ)された官(かん)たちの周(まわ)りを洗(あら)っていた��…自然(しぜん)と。実物(じつぶつ)を見(み)ていただきたかったのですが…量(りょう)が少々…膨大(ぼうだい)でして。目(め)につく範囲(はんい)で抜粋(ばっすい)しました」

Rahan “Shobatsu-sareta kan-tachi’no mawari’o aratte-itara…shizen-to. Jibu-butsu’o mite-itadaki-ta-katta-no-desu-ga… ryo’ga sho-sho…bodai-deshite. Me’ni tsuku han’I’de bassui-shima-shita.”

Lahan “It was natural, after investigating the situations of recently punished officials. I wanted you to see the original documents, but they got a bit lengthy. So I made an excerpt based on the most obvious ones.”

壬氏「ここ数年(すうねん)、穀物(こくもつ)の値(ね)が明(あき)らかに上(あ)がっているな…」

Jinshi “Koko-su-nen, koku-motsu’no ne’ga akiraka-ni agatte-iru-na…”

Jinshi “The price of grain has gone up visibly over the past few years.”

羅半「面白(おもしろ)いですよね…。干(かん)ばつも蝗害(こうがい)もなかったのに。それから、もう一(ひと)つ。なぜか鉄(てつ)の値(ね)も上(あ)がっているのです。国全体(くにぜんたい)の金属(きんぞく)の値(ね)も…」

Rahan “Omoshiroi-desu-yone… Kanbatsu’mo kogai’mo nakatta-noni. Sore-kara, mo-hitotsu. Naze-ka tetsu’no ne’mo agatte-iru-no-desu. Kuni-zentai’no kinzoku’no ne’mo…”

Lahan “Interesting, isn’t it? We’ve had no droughts nor insect plagues, nothing like that. And one more thing: for some reason, the price of iron has increased, as well. As have the prices of all metals nationwide.”

壬氏「ん…」

Jinshi “N…”

羅半「国(くに)で巨大(きょだい)な建造物(けんぞうぶつ)でも造(つく)っているのでしょうか…。調(しら)べたところ、そんな計画(けいかく)はどこにも見当(みあ)たりませんでしたが…」

Rahan “Kuni’de kyodai-na kenzo-butsu’demo tsukutte-iru-no-desho-ka… Shirabeta-tokoro, sonna keikaku’wa doko-nimo miatari-masen-deshita-ga…”

Lahan “Is our government building some huge structure somewhere? I couldn’t find any plans for such a project anywhere that I looked.”

壬氏（抜(ぬ)け目(め)のないところは養父(ようふ)にそっくりだな…）

Jinshi (Nukeme’no-nai-tokoro’wa yofu’ni sokkuri-dana…)

Jinshi (He’s just like his adopted father in that cunning, shrewd way.)

壬氏「言(い)いたいことは理解(りかい)した。穀物(こくもつ)自体(じたい)は大(たい)した値(ね)ではないが、量(りょう)が量だ。値上(ねあ)がりすれば、差額(さがく)は相当(そうとう)なものになる。その差額(さがく)は、誰(だれ)かが横領(おうりょう)している。そして金属(きんぞく)の値上(ねあ)がり。こちらも、何者(なにもの)かが大量(たいりょう)に仕入(しい)れている。そう言(い)いたいのだろう？」

Jinshi “Iitai-koto’wa rikai-shita. Koku-motsu-jitai’wa taishita ne’dewa nai-ga, ryo’ga ryo-da. Ne-agari-sureba, sagaku’wa soto-na mono’ni naru. Sono sagaku’wa, dareka’ga oryo-shite-iru. Soshite kinzoku’no ne-agari. Kochira’mo, nani-mono-ka’ga tairyo-ni shi’irete-iru. So iitai-no-daro?”

Jinshi “I understand what you’re trying to say. The price of grain isn’t extraordinary by itself, but given the volume of trade, that small price hike results in a huge difference. Someone is pocketing that difference. Also, the price of metals means someone is buying a lot of them. That’s what you’re implying, right?”

羅半「はい。私(わたし)が思(おも)うに、この２(ふた)つの行(い)き着(つ)く先(さき)は同(おな)じです。そして、これほどのことができる人物(じんぶつ)も限(かぎ)られるでしょう。私(わたし)なら、もっと詳(くわ)しく調(しら)べることができます。流(なが)れがどこに集約(しゅうやく)しているのか…お知(し)りになりたくないですか？フッ…」

Rahan “Hai. Watashi’ga omou-ni, kono futatsu’no iki-tsuku-saki’wa onaji-desu. Soshite, kore-hodo’no koto’ga dekiru jinbutsu’mo kagi-rareru-desho. Watashi’nara, motto kuwashiku shiraberu-koto’ga deki-masu. Nagare’ga doko’ni shuyaku-shite-iru-noka… O-shiri’ni nari-taku-nai-desu-ka? Fu…”

Lahan “Yes. From what I’m thinking, these both lead to the same thing. And there aren’t very many people who can pull off something like this. I could look into it in more detail. Wouldn’t it interest you to know where all this is flowing?”

壬氏「フッ…。それで、要求(ようきゅう)は何(なん)だ？」

Jinshi “Fu… Sorede, yokyu’wa nan-da?”

Jinshi “And what do you want in return?”

羅半「はっ！」

Rahan “Ha!”

壬氏「利害(りがい)なしに話(はなし)を持(も)ってきたわけではないのだろう？」

Jinshi “Rigai-nashi’ni hanashi’o motte-kita-wake’dewa nai-no-daro?”

Jinshi “You couldn’t have brought this to me without asking for something in return.”

馬閃「壬氏様！」

Basen “Jinshi-sama!”

Basen “Master Jinshi!”

羅半「こちらの額(がく)、少(すこ)～し勉強(べんきょう)していただけないでしょうか？」

Rahan “Kochira’no gaku, sukoooshi benkyo-shite-itadake-nai-desho-ka?”

Lahan “Could you give us just a small discount on this bill?”

壬氏「それは？」

Jinshi “Sore’wa?”

Jinshi “What’s that for?”

羅半「養父上(ちちうえ)が壊(こわ)した後宮(こうきゅう)の門(もん)の修繕費(しゅうぜんひ)です」

Rahan “Chichi-ue’ga kowashita kokyu’no mon’no shuzen-hi desu.”

Lahan “It’s the cost of repairs for the gate into the rear palace that my father destroyed.”

馬閃「自業自得(じごうじとく)では？」

Basen “Jigo-jitoku’dewa?”

Basen “He should reap what he sows…”

壬氏「分(わ)かった」

Jinshi “Wakatta.”

Jinshi “Fine.”

馬閃「良(よ)いのですか？」

Basen “Yoi-no-desu-ka?”

Basen “Are you sure?!”

羅半「はぁっ！」

Rahan “Haa!”

壬氏「その代(か)わり、徹底的(てっていてき)に調(しら)べろ。金(かね)と鉄(てつ)が流(なが)れ着(つ)いた先(さき)で、何(なに)が起(お)きようとしているのか」

Jinshi “Sono-kawari, tettei-teki-ni shirabero. Kane’to tetsu’ga nagare-tsuita-saki’de, nani’ga oki-yoto shite-iru-noka.”

Jinshi “In exchange, I expect you to be thorough. Find out what’s going on at the destination of this trail of money and metal.”

羅半「仰(おお)せのままに」

Rahan “Oose’no mama-ni.”

Lahan “As you wish.”

壬氏（使(つか)えるものは、何(なん)でも使(つか)ってやる…）

Jinshi (Tsukaeru-mono’wa, nan’demo tsukatte-yaru…)

Jinshi (I’ll use whatever I can.)

(Continue to Episode 19/Ep.43)

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