【海外の反応】薬屋のひとりごと1期5話、「偽そばかすにまんまと騙された」

主人公以外の女はみんな妓女ってこと？

So all women except femc are prostitutes?

違う。2人は妃で、残りは侍女だよ。

>>1

No. Two of them are concubines, the rest are servants.

つまり妓女じゃん

>>2

So prostitutes

主人公だって妓女だろ

>>1

Femc is a prostitute too.

違うって。最初は薬師の見習いで、次に洗濯係、それから妃の侍女になった。主な仕事は毒見だけど、字が読めて薬も作れるから雑用もこなしてる。

>>4

No she isn't. She was an apothecary apprentice, then was a washerwoman, then became an attendant to a concubine whose main job is tasting food for poison, but also does odd jobs since she's literate and skilled in making medicines.

選べるのは一人だけな

You can only pick one.

あのキノコってなんでそんなに大ごとなんだ？
宮中の敷地で物を採るのって罪になるの？

Why are the bloody mushrooms such a big deal?
Is it a crime to collect stuff from imperial grounds?

猫猫が薬用に摘んでる雑草なんて誰も気にしないけど、松茸は希少で高価だからな。自分用に採るのは帝の顔に唾吐くようなもんなんだよ

>>7

Nobody gives a s**t about the weeds Maomao harvests for medicine, but matsutake are rare and valuable, so harvesting it for your own use is like spitting in the emperor's face.

そこまでひどくはないだろ。帝は帝で自分用の松茸を蓄えてるだろうし。ただ人に分けないのはだいぶ身勝手だけどな

>>8

It's not quite that bad, as the emperor likely has his own stockpile of the mushrooms to enjoy, but it's pretty selfish not to share it with others.

壬氏が簪を挿してやったのって、要は「こいつは俺のもんだ」って周りに示してたってこと？

So was him placing the hair ornament on her essentially telling other people that she's taken by him?

そのほんの2分前に玉葉妃も侍女たちに装飾品を配ってただろ。画面で何が起きてるか理解しようとしてて偉いね。

>>10

Like 2 minutes before that Gyokuyou also gave her servants jewelry. Good for you for trying to understand what's happening on the screen.

>えっ、そのそばかす本物じゃなかったの？
>へえ、まだ生娘なんだ？
>お前は俺のものだ
おいおいおい

>>10

>haha those are were not real freckles?
>oh, you've still got your virginity?
>you're mine
Ayo

なるほど、それなら納得だわ

Well that actually does explain it.

誰が古代中国だって言った？設定から分かる範囲じゃ、架空の世界って可能性もあるだろ

who said this is ancient china? As much as we know about the setting it could be some original world

>誰が古代中国だって言った？
何から何まで露骨に古代中国がモデルだからだよ。名前こそ中国じゃないけど、中国だってことを隠す気すらない。

>>14

>>who said this is ancient china?
The fact that everything about it is obviously modeled on ancient China? It's not called china but it does not even bother to hide that it's China.

カカオがヨーロッパに入ったのは1650年ごろで、アジアにはそこから広まったんだよ。

Cacao was brought to Europe around 1650 and spread to Asia from there.

てことは清朝ってことになるけど、誰も辮髪にしてない。つまりただの架空の世界ってことだな。

>>16

So it'd have to be the Qing dynasty, but no one is wearing queues. Which means that it's just an invented world.

で、そいつらに何ができるって？

and what they're gonna do about it?

後宮で露骨な暴力はそうそう通らない。でも毒を盛るって手が――
>猫猫は玉葉妃の毒見役
じゃあ仲間外れにして孤立させるとか――
>上級妃と、後宮でも指折りの実力者の両方に守られてて、帝のお墨付きの腕前で他の下働きからも一目置かれてる

>>18

Overt violence won't easily pass in the palace, but they can always poison her-
>Maomao is Lady Gyokuyou's poison tester
Well maybe they can socially ostracize her-
>is under the protection of both a high-ranking concubine and arguably one of the most influential men in the palace while also recognized by the other workers for her skillset that even the emperor can vouch for

でも陰で悪口は言われるんだぞ。結局どっちの勝ちなんだか

>>19

Yeah but they'll say mean things about her behind her back so who really won?

今回はちょっと悲しかった。主人公にそばかすがあるのが嬉しかったのに、あれが「ブサイク」に見せるための偽物だって分かってちょっとへこんだ。俺もそばかすがあるからさ。

this episode made me a little sad as I was happy with an MC having[spoiler] freckles and finding out they were fake to make her look "ugly" just bummed me out a little since I have freckles too.[/spoiler]

>推しに遠回しにブサイク呼ばわりされるアンタ
うわぁ

>>21

>anon basically gets called ugly by his waifu
OH NO

スレにもそばかすを返してくれって奴が大勢いるけどさ、ゲイでもなきゃ別にどうでもよくない？

>>21

the thread is also full of guys who want the freckles back
I don't see how it matters though unless you're gay

小蘭は純粋な子だと思ってたのに…

I thought Xiaolan was pure...

あの子は文字どおり皇帝のための後宮で働いてるんだぞ。
ここまで来て男女のことを知らないなら、心が清いっていうより頭が空っぽってことになる

>>24

She's literally working in an Emperor's personal whorehouse.
At this point not knowing about s*x would be less pure of heart and more empty of thought.

こういうところで女が書いたって分かるんだよな
男の実際の反応は、ここの連中が証明してるとおり「は？そばかす返せよ」だわ

This kind of stuff is how you know this was written by a woman
The actual reaction men would have, as demonstrated by anons, is "wtf give me the freckles back"

肌が黒いとか肌にシミがあるってのは、昔から貧しさと結びつけられてきたんだよ。アジアだけじゃなく、世界のほとんどでな。逆にシミひとつない滑らかな白い肌は、屋内にこもって何もしなくていいくらい裕福だって印だった。

>>26

There's a longstanding association between dark skin or skin blemishes and poverty, not just through Asia, but the majority of the world. This is compared to smooth, unblemished pale skin which would indicate that you were wealthy enough to stay inside and never have to do s**t.

そばかすのある女の顔、間近でじっくり見たことある？
あんまり綺麗なもんじゃないぞ。

>>26

Have you stared at a freckled woman's face up close?
It's not a pretty sight.

何言ってんだ？ちょっとした茶色い肌の不揃いで、個性が出るだろ。俺は自分のそばかす気に入ってるけど。

>>28

What do you mean? They’re just little brown skin imperfections that add character. I like mine.

改めて聞きたいんだけど、帝は手を出す気なんてさらさら無いってはっきりさせてるのに、なんで里樹妃をそばに置いてるんだ？もともといたから、わざわざ追い出す気にならなかっただけ？

Remind me again why the emperor has her around when he makes it abundantly clear he'd never try to f**k her, is it just because she was there already and he didn't feel like kicking her out?

同じ奴の話してる？
>後宮の運営の大半を取り仕切る、驚くほど美しい宦官。後宮には皇帝の妃たちとそれぞれの侍女らが暮らしている。男女問わずその容姿に惹かれるが、壬氏が惹かれるのは猫猫。無条件に自分を好きにならない、唯一の相手だからだ。美しい顔の裏には切れる頭があり、皇帝への務めと、宮中での自分の立場を高めることとの釣り合いを取ろうとしている。

are we talking about the same dude?

>A surprisingly beautiful eunuch who runs most of the administration of the rear palace, where the Emperor's concubines and their respective staff reside. Both men and women alike are attracted to his visage, but Jinshi finds himself attracted to Maomao, the only person he's met who does not unconditionally love him. Behind his face lies a shrewd mind who tries to balance his duties to the Emperor while improving his own station within the Imperial Palace.

OPが「マジで」止まらない。
猫猫かわいすぎ
ハナニナッテェェェ

I -LITERALLY- can't stop watching the OP.
Maomao is so pretty
HANA NI NATTEEEEE

「〜いいんじゃない」のとこ、もうシャキーラにしか聞こえない

>>32

I can't unhear Shakira when she sings "~iinjanai"

西洋人ってキノコ食べないの？

Do Westerners not eat mushrooms?

西洋人のほとんどはその画像みたいにキノコを丸ごとは食べないな。普通はカサだけ。なんでかは知らんけど。

>>34

most westerners don't eat the whole mushroom like in your pic, normally it is just the head, dunno why though.

俺らが食べてるのはこういうの。たいてい刻んで使う

>>34 >>35

these are what we eat, usually chopped up

イタリア人だけど
西洋人だって小さいキノコなら普通に丸ごと食べるぞ。ナラタケとかヤナギマツタケとか。
ほかにも季節ごとにいろんなキノコを食べる。
ポートベローばっかりじゃないんだよ。

>>36 >>35

Italian here
Us westerners definitely eat whole mushrooms when they are small, eg honey fungus and poplar mushroom.
We also eat a whole variety of other mushroom depending on the season.

It's not all portobello.

>1話だけ見た
>気に入った
>切った
こんなに/a/らしい書き込み初めて見たわ。

>watched ep 1,
>liked it
>Dropped

This is the most /a/ post I've ever seen.

>こんなに/a/らしい書き込み初めて見たわ。
一番/a/らしいのは、見てもいないし興味もないのに、それでも語ってボロクソに叩くことだろ。

>>38

>This is the most /a/ post I've ever seen.
The most /a/ thing would be not even watching or being interested in the show, but still discussing and thrashing it.

こんなに信用できない語り手はキョン以来だな。

We haven't had this much of an unreliable narrator since Kyon.

女の自己投影もの好きの諸君、今期はごちそうだぞ

Female self insert kings, we are eating good this season

俺は「薬」目当てで見てるだけだから。

>>41

I'm just hear for the "medicine."

女が書いた作品だってのが分かるな

You can tell this series was written by a woman

/a/を疑うべきじゃなかった。お前らが楽しんでるからゴミだと思ってたけど、これはなかなかの「おもしれー女」ものだわ。

I should have never doubted you /a/. I thought it was trash because you actually enjoyed it but this is some good omosirē onna stuff.

猫猫（ねこねこ）が壬氏に落ちてると思ってるだろうけど、今のところ
>あの侍女、ぺったんこだしそばかすは気持ち悪いし
>でもまあ頭は切れるし、あのSっ気にはゾクゾクする
>それに俺を無視するあの感じが……
>いや、好きじゃない。断じて好きじゃないし、後継ぎを産ませたいとも思ってない

>>44

You think catcat is falling for him, but so far it's
>that maid, she's so flat and her freckles are so disgusting
>well she's kinda intellingent and her S tendencies get me horny
>also the way she ignores me is so...
>but no, I DON'T like her and I DON'T want to turn her into a baby factory

今回の話
>からかってやればいい。なにせ面白いおもちゃだからな
>待て！こいつ前からこんなに美人だったか？
>そばかすが無けりゃ男がみんな放っておかないぞ
>縄張りを主張しておかないと。

>>45

This episode
>I should simply tease her, after all she's a fun toy
>WAIT!Was she always this hot?
> Without the freckles every men would want to breed her
>I need to mark my territory.

なんでみんな可哀想な猫猫（ねこねこ）に頼りっきりなんだ？あの子が来る前、こいつらどうやって生きてたんだよ？

Why is everyone taking advange of poor catcat? How did these imbeciles live before she arrived?

女と“アレの無い”連中しか入れない場所があるなら、宮廷だって女を何人かくらい医術の道に育てとくもんだと思うだろ。でもそうじゃない。他の全員の知識がほぼゼロだったから、それよりはマシってだけで職にありついたおっさんに頼るっていうね。

>>47

You'd think having a place that only women and the dickless can enter would make the court train at least a couple women in medicine, but nah, let's rely on a dude who only got the job because his knowledge of the job was higher than basically nothing of everyone else.

え、この猫猫（ねこねこ）ネタって、キャラの名前に「猫」って漢字が2つ並んでるところから来てんの？
それって中国で実際にある名前なの？2つの音で声調が違って、まったく別の言葉なんだろうと思ってたわ

>>47

What, this catcat meme actually comes from that the character's name is spelled with the Chinese character for “cat” twice?

Is that actually a name in China? I sort of assumed the two syllables had different tones or something and were two completely different words

名前はまさにマオマオで、直訳すると「ねこねこ」になる。
だから猫耳を付けられたりしてるわけ。

>>49

Her name is indeed maomao, directly translated as catcat.
It's why she gets cat ears and all that.

>どうしたらこうなるんだ？
公式のYouTube動画から抜いたんじゃないの？ちゃんとしたCDが出るのは1か月後だし。

>What the f**k did they do?
Rip the official YouTube video maybe? The Actual CD release is in a month.

配信ではもう出てなかったっけ？

>>51

Isn't it out on digital platforms?

猫猫って、おやじに会いに行ったりするの？

Does Maomao ever go to visit her father?

俺は逆だな。恋愛パートが一番読んでてキツい

My problem is the other way around, the romance bits are the worst to read

読んでる奴の9割はカップリング目当てだぞ

>>54

90% of people read this for the ship

なんでこの作品、冒頭に「これは完全なフィクションです、訴えないでください」みたいな注意書きが出るのか誰か説明してくれない？明の子孫が自分たちの架空版に怒るとでも思ってるの？

Can someone explain why this series starts with a "THIS IS TOTALLY FICTIONAL PLEASE DON'T SUE" warning? Are they afraid the descendants of Ming China will be angry at their fictional version?

作中だと猫猫ってかわいい扱いなの？

Is she considered cute in-setting?

俺は里樹妃派

For me, it's Lishu.

どこがいいの？

>>58

What's the appeal?

かわいいし、アヒルが好きなところ

>>59

She's cute and likes ducks

この作品って何が面白いの？

What makes this show good?

悠木碧が演じる皮肉屋で世慣れした10代の娘が、宮廷専属の医者兼探偵兼手品師みたいな立場で、少しずつ宮廷の騒動や権力争いに引き込まれていくところ。宮廷のいろんな人物と仲良くなったり衝突したりするのを見るのも楽しいし、贅沢なまでに美しい背景とキャラデザも堪能できる（作画の動き自体はごく普通だけど）。

>>61

Aoi Yuuki playing a sardonic worldly teenager drawn slowly into court drama and politics as an ad-hoc court doctor/detective/magician. Seeing how she befriends or clashes with the various other personalities of the court. And enjoying the sumptuously beautiful backgrounds and character designs (the animation itself being most pedestrian).

猫猫（ねこねこ）っていつからこんなに色っぽくなったんだ？

When did Catcat become this sexy?

正直OPって作品にあんまり合ってない気がする。なんであそこで猫猫が色っぽく着飾ってるのか分からん。本編じゃ一度もそんなことしないのに。今まで見た中でも指折りの変なOPだわ

>>63

OP kind of doesnt fit the series tbqh. idk why maomao is dressed up sexy and s**t in there she never does it in the actual story. its one of the weirdest OP ive seen

見れば見るほど、もう漫画を読んじゃいたくなる。毎回5分くらいに感じるのは、たぶん今期でこれだけだわ。
壬氏が猫猫にやられちゃうところはもう最高。狩る側が狩られる側になったな（笑）

The more episodes I watch, the more I'm tempted to just read the manga. Probably the only show this season that feels like 5 minutes long every time.

Jinshi getting smitten by Maomao was just \*chef's kiss\*. The hunter becomes the prey. lol

漫画はかなりいいぞ！
壬氏は猫猫の素顔の美しさに言葉を失って、今じゃ一人の人間として猫猫に前より興味を持ってる。猫猫のほうは、興味なんか持たないでほしいと思ってそうだけど（笑）

The manga is pretty great!

Jinshi is stunned speechless by her natural beauty and now has become more interested in Maomao as a person. Though she probably wishes he wasn't more interested lol.

まっすぐな壬氏の一面を猫猫が垣間見たってことは、壬氏への警戒が崩れはじめる兆しかもな（笑）

Maomao catching a glimpse of a straightforward Jinshi might be the sign that her defenses towards him will start to crack. Lol

絶対読むべき。たぶん次の話までに追いつけるから、そうすればいい復習になるだけじゃなく、すごくよくできたアニメ化も楽しめるよ。

You definitely should. You would likely be caught up before the next episode, so then you can enjoy not only a nice recap, but also a really well made adaptation.

うおおお、猫猫って実は美人なのに、花街の危険があるから美しさを隠してたの？！
じゃあ「男が簪を贈る」ってどういう意味なの？恋愛がらみの何か？壬氏、何してんの？！
それに、壬氏が宴で何も起きないことを願ってるってこと自体、何か大きなことが起きるかもって言ってるようなもんだよな。何が起きるんだろう。
全体的にすごくいい回だった！

Woaaahhh so Maomao apparently is pretty, but she hides her beauty because of the dangers in the red light district?!

So, what does 'giving a male hairpin' mean then? Is this something related to romance? Jinshi what are you doing?!

And the mere fact that Jinshi hopes that nothing happens in the banquet basically states that there might be something big that happen. I wonder what that is.

Over-all a really nice episode!

壬氏が猫猫を「自分のもの」だって主張してるように見える。もしかして猫猫を守るために、自分の側の人間だって周りに知らせてるのかな？

Kinda feels like Jinshi is “claiming” Maomao. Like he’s letting people know she’s with him as a means to maybe protect her?

玉葉妃は完全に、これからは猫猫を共有しなきゃいけないと思ってたっぽいな（笑）

Gyokuyou definitely seemed to think she had to share her now lol.

次回予告で別の男がある娘に簪を渡してたな。その娘に気があるって示すためなのかも

the preview for next episode have some other guy give a girl the hairpin. Maybe to show their interest in the girl

猫猫と後宮の医者って意外な組み合わせだよな。あの二人が仲良くなるとは思わなかった。二人でキノコを楽しんでるのはかなり笑えた。壬氏はどうやってあの二人の小さな秘密を知ったんだ？
壬氏は魅力を振りまいて女たちをうっとりさせるのに慣れすぎてて、まさか自分がうっとりさせられる側になるとは思ってなかったんだろうな（笑）。まあ責められないけど。猫猫、本当に綺麗だった。化粧で変装しなきゃいけなかったのも納得。あの理由の説明はすごく暗かった……妓楼のそばでの暮らしは過酷だったんだろうな。壬氏はあの簪で自分の気持ちを示したってことかな？大胆だね。
宴では何か厄介なことが起きそうな予感。暗殺の企みとか？

Maomao and the palace doc are an unlikely pair. Did not think those two would become friendly. Seeing those two enjoying the mushrooms was pretty funny. How did Jinshi find out their little secret?

Jinshi‘s so use to turning on the charms and making the ladies swoon, he wasn’t expecting he’d be the one swooning lol. Can’t say I blame him. Maomao looked really pretty. No wonder she had to disguise herself with makeup. That explanation was really bleak… life by the brothels must have been rough. I guess Jinshi’s making his intentions known with that hairpin? Bold.

I sense trouble at this party. Assassination plot perhaps?

あの二人が仲良くなったのはいいことだよな。猫猫は好物を落ち着いて食べられるし、それに後宮の本当の医療の専門家は猫猫だから、何かと都合もいい（笑）
壬氏と猫猫の関係もいい感じに進んだ。壬氏は猫猫の素顔の美しさと、彼女の事情を知ったことでますます惚れ込んで、猫猫は壬氏が何かに本気になるところを見た。しかも壬氏はもう縄張りを主張しはじめてるっぽいし……

It's good that they get along so well so Maomao can eat her favorite foods in peace and also convenient because Maomao is the real medical expert of the palace lol.

Some good progress on Jinshi and Maomao's relationship. Jinshi falling harder because of her natural beauty and understanding where she's coming from, Maomao seeing him get serious about something, and Jinshi already seems to be marking his territory...

猫猫が壬氏から簪をもらったのは、周りの騒ぎっぷりや、玉葉妃が「もう私だけの侍女じゃなくなる」ってちょっと拗ねてたところを見ると、大ごとなんだろうな。一種の所有権の主張？
気になって中国の簪についてWikipediaを調べてみた。それによると、簪は文化的には成人の証として使われたり、愛の証（婚約や、長旅のお守りのようなもの）として使われたりしたらしい。正直、今回の簪はそのどっちにも当てはまらない気がする。猫猫も明らかに分かってないみたいだし、次回もう少し説明があるといいな。
それと、OPを見てれば察するべきだったんだけど、まさか猫猫のそばかすが偽物だとは思わなかった。とはいえ、なんでそうしてるのかの説明は筋が通ってた（後宮でまで続ける必要があったのかは分からないけど。お偉方の目を避けるためかな？）。
壬氏が面食らうくらいなんだから、相当な大変身だったんだろうな。

I presume Maomao getting the hairpin from Jinshi is a big deal seeing the fuss and Gyokuyou being mildly upset how she's "no longer mine alone." It's some kind of stake of claim?

Curiosity got the better of me and I [wikied Chinese hairpin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_hairpin). Wiki says the hairpin was used culturally to signify the coming-of-age or used as a love token (betrothal and some kind of good luck charm for long journeys). Honestly doesn't feel like the hairpins this episode represent either of those cases. Hopefully we'll get some more insight next episode cause Maomao clearly doesn't know what's up with them either.

And I really should have assumed so based off the OP but I didn't expect Maomao's freckles to be fakes. Although her explanation does make sense why she utilizes them (although I don't see why she needed to maintain it in the palace. Maybe to avoid the gazing eyes of the higher ups?).

Gotta be a helluva glow up if Jinshi was taken back by how different she looked.

簪は猫猫を襲われる危険から守るためだと思う。要するに、壬氏は猫猫が素顔を隠さずにいられるよう手助けしてるんだよ。後宮の（もしかしたら外の）男たちもあの簪を見れば、手を出しちゃいけないって分かる。

I think the hairpin is to protect Maomao from potential assault. Basically Jinshi trying to help her and allow her to be herself without hiding. Other men in the palace (maybe elsewhere?) see that hairpin and know to keep their hands to themselves.

いや、あれは間違いなく愛の証だったよ。ただ猫猫がその意味を分かってなかっただけかも。

Oh, it was definitely a love token. But maybe Maomao didn't understand the significance.

上半身裸の壬氏のサービスシーンだ！木刀で稽古してる半裸の姿はかなり目を引く。いつか本物の剣で腕前を見せる日が来るのかな？とはいえ本人の関心は猫猫のほうに向いてて、高順も今ではそれをよく分かってる。
猫猫は順調だな。キノコは採り放題、他の侍女からもらうごちそうを小蘭に振る舞えるし、惚れ薬で他の娘たちがいい身分の男とくっつくのを手伝ってるし、やぶ医者ともすっかり打ち解けて、人目につかない場所でキノコを焼いて食べられるようになった。もちろん、事件のほうは毎回なぜか猫猫を見つけてやってくる。
あの色分けされた炎は何なんだろう？何かの合図を送ろうとしてるみたいだけど、何のために？壬氏が気にしてるって時点でかなりの危険信号だし、猫猫もそういつまでも無視してはいられないと思う。
四夫人がそろう園遊会？猫猫を着飾らせる絶好の口実じゃん！これは逃げられない。でも少なくとも、自分を快適にすることはできる。他の侍女たちも快適に。壬氏や高順も快適に。というか、ほぼ全員を快適にしちゃう！
里樹妃がいくつなのかは知らないほうがいいのかな？阿多妃はかなり面白そうな人に見える。
壬氏は女の扱いが本当にうまくて、絶世の妃だろうと普通の下働きの娘だろうと、誰でも上手に褒められる……そんな壬氏でさえ、猫猫の本当の美しさを目にして言葉を失う。しかも化粧をしてじゃなく、化粧を落としてだ。ずっとそばかすを偽ってたんだから。
気まぐれで襲ってくるような男たちに囲まれて妓楼のそばで育つのは、相当過酷だったんだろうな。生きていくために自分の魅力を抑えなきゃいけないと思うほどに。実際、猫猫がこんな目にあったのも、化粧が薄れて人さらいに目をつけられるくらい綺麗に見えちゃったからなんだよな。うわぁ。
でも壬氏は今、猫猫という人間と、彼女がくぐり抜けてきたことを前より理解したみたいだし、猫猫もつらい経験に対する壬氏の真剣な謝罪に本気で驚いてた。二人の間に本物のつながりができたように見える。しかも壬氏は猫猫に自分の簪まで渡して、どうやら自分のものだって印を付けたらしい。猫猫が望んでるわけじゃないけど、もう逃げられないな。
園遊会は真っ盛りだけど、誰かが料理に何か仕込んでるみたいだ……ちゃんとした毒見役がいてよかった。

Here's some shirtless Jinshi fanservice! He cuts quite the striking figure shirtless and practicing with wooden swords. I wonder if he'll ever have to demonstrate his skills with a legit sword? Though really he's more focused on Maomao, which Gaoshun is more than aware of now.

Things are going well for Maomao. She can harvest all the mushrooms she wants, she can treat Xiaolin to all the full course meals she gets from the other ladies-in-waiting, she's helping other girls bang well-positioned men with her aphrodisiac, and she's even getting along with the quack doctor well enough to get a secluded spot to fry up and eat her mushrooms. Of course a case always somehow finds her.

I wonder what's up with the color coded flames? They're trying to send a signal, but for what? Jinshi being concerned about it is a big enough red flag. And I don't think Maomao will be able to ignore it for long.

A Garden Party with the four main concubines? Perfect excuse to dress up Maomao! She's not going to get out of this. But she can at least make herself more comfortable. And the other ladies more comfortable. Or Jinshi and Gaoshun more comfortable. Or practically EVERYBODY more comfortable!

Do I want to know how young Concubine Lishu is? Though Concubine Ah-Duo seems pretty interesting.

It's nice to see Gyoukuyo sleeping with her child...and not just because of the way her boobs pop out of her nightrobes.

Jinshi has quite the way with the ladies and knows how to compliment any, be they a gorgeous concubine or a normal servant girl...but even he's stunned speechless when he sees how beautiful Maomao really looks. And not with makeup, but without it, because she'd been faking having freckles the whole time.

It must be pretty rough growing up around a brothel with men who would force themselves on you with a whim, to the point where you would feel forced to downplay your attractiveness in order to get by. In fact Maomao got stuck in this situation because her makeup faded enough that she looked pretty for the kidnappers to nab. Yikes.

But Jinshi now seems to understand Maomao better as a person, and what she's been through, and Maomao is genuinely surprised at his earnest apology for her experience. The two seem to form a genuine connection. And Jinshi even gives Maomao his hair pin, seemingly marking her as his now. Not that she wants it, but she's stuck with him.

The Garden Party is in full swing but it seems like someone is doing something to the food...good thing we have a proper poison tester involved.

つまり美人なのは危険だったから、それを全力で「直して」たわけか。
おやじには気の毒だけど、あの人さらいたちは知らずに猫猫の命を救ったのかもしれないな。

So being pretty was dangerous so she did her best to "fix" that.

It sucks for her dad, but those kidnappers might have saved her life unintentionally.

目立たないように字が読めないふりまでしなきゃいけなかったくらいだし、そっちの方向にも手を打ってたのは驚かないな……
まあ、傷だらけなのもあんまり役に立ってないけど。

She had to pretend she was illiterate to avoid being given more attention, not surprised she went that way as well...

​

although being wounded hasn't done much to help either.

猫猫が医者にキノコを分けてあげたのが、優しさからじゃなくて、後宮でキノコを採ってるのがバレたときのための共犯者を作るためってところが大好き（笑）
先週の予告にも今回の冒頭にも出てたから、あの男が今回の話の中心になると思ってたんだけど、猫猫はたった1シーンで何が起きてるか見抜いて、必要な薬まで渡しちゃった。
とはいえ、何かを染み込ませてあったあの木札は、あとでまた出てきそうだな。壬氏があの男と同じような火傷をした者を全員探し出せって命じてるし。
上級妃が全員招かれる園遊会？これは楽しくなりそう！侍女たちも自分の主人を一番綺麗に見せようと燃えてるみたいだし。
猫猫は時代を先取りしすぎてて、もう生姜飴やカイロを発明してる。その小さな発明品の評判が広まって、帝の料理人や針子まで助けを求めに来るのが最高（笑）
園遊会の四夫人、みんなすごく綺麗だった。
猫猫がめちゃくちゃ綺麗！そばかすを描いてるんだろうなとはなんとなく思ってた。でも、わざと肌に染みを足してる理由があんなにえげつないとは思わなかった。完全に不意を突かれたけど、生き延びるためにはやるしかないよな。これまで猫猫の身に起きた一番ひどいことが後宮に売られたことだっていうのは、むしろ運がいいほうだ。
とはいえ、壬氏は猫猫の素顔の美しさにやられちゃったみたいだな。あの銀の簪を挿したのは、猫猫を自分のものだと主張したってこと？あらまあ。そりゃ娘たちもあんなに嫉妬するわけだ！ただ、あの簪は役に立つより厄介ごとのほうが多くなりそうな気がする。
つまり怪しい誰かが帝か妃たちに毒を盛ろうとしてるってこと？猫猫の目をすり抜けて毒を盛れるとは思えないけどな。来週の園遊会の続きが楽しみ！

###Stitches!

* [Lishu](https://i.imgur.com/5Xwy6r5.jpg)

* [Maomao](https://i.imgur.com/3Rq5hHb.jpg)

* [Gyokuyou 1](https://i.imgur.com/sUhw647.jpg)

* [Gyokuyou 2](https://i.imgur.com/9a1Jf9v.jpg)

I just love how [Maomao shared the mushrooms with the Doctor](https://i.imgur.com/aalB3q8.jpg) not out of the kindness of her heart but so she has [an accomplice](https://i.imgur.com/Eo3CfQA.jpg) just in case she gets caught gathering mushrooms around the imperial palace. xD

Considering it was in last week's preview episode and [today's opening scene](https://i.imgur.com/IsxivMf.jpg), I thought that guy would be central to today's plot but [Maomao was able to figure out what was happening](https://i.imgur.com/wICgrdZ.jpg) and even [gave the guy the medicine he needed](https://i.imgur.com/9yOtnDi.jpg) in a single scene.

Although it looks like [those wood tablets](https://i.imgur.com/Tx3u9QK.jpg) that's been laced with something is probably going to come back later [considering Jinshi is ordering a hunt](https://i.imgur.com/x8ylztK.png) for everyone with similar burns like that guy.

A Garden Party that [with all of the top Lady Consorts invited?](https://i.imgur.com/MBlrJ5C.jpg) This looks like this is going to be fun! And it looks like [the attendants are all getting fired up](https://i.imgur.com/oIShmFq.jpg) with this event to make their Lady look the best.

Maomao is so ahead of her time that she's already [inventing ginger candy](https://i.imgur.com/ujeg2JJ.png) and [pocket warmers](https://i.imgur.com/04Ijc1h.jpg). I love how her little inventions have caught wind so much that [even the Emperor's own cook and seamstress](https://i.imgur.com/7FTOjjY.jpg) are approaching her for help. xD

[The Four Concubines are looking pretty amazing for the Garden Party.](https://imgur.com/a/3lI36Lj) I do love that Lihua is clearly putting a lot of emphasis on her cleavage. Considering that she's the Emperor's current favourite, I'm not surprised.

[Maomao is looking so goddamn stunning!](https://i.imgur.com/3Allgh6.jpg) I kinda expected that she was painting on her freckles. What I did not expect though is [the brutal reason why she adds blemishes to her skin on purpose.](https://i.imgur.com/tnJHOT6.jpg) That definitely caught me off guard but you gotta do what you gotta do to survive. She's lucky that the worst thing that's happened to her is getting sold off to the Inner Palace.

[Looks like Jinshi ended up getting charmed by Maomao's natural beauty though.](https://i.imgur.com/JmO0vix.jpg) Was he claiming Maomao for himself when he placed that silver hairpin on her? Oh my. [No wonder the girls are so jealous!](https://i.imgur.com/zAnR2oB.jpg) Although I feel like that hairpin is going to be more trouble than it's worth.

[So someone shady is going to either poison the Emperor or the Concubines?](https://i.imgur.com/iKdcUmt.jpg) I doubt they'd be able to get any poison past by Maomao. I'm excited for the rest of this Garden Party next week!

猫猫とやぶ医者が、一緒においしいごはんを食べる医療仲間になってる。ただ、猫猫のほうがずっと有能だから、これからやぶ医者がどんどん仕事を押し付けてきそうな気もする（笑）
今回の件の本題は「呪い」じゃなくて、木札の色付きの炎が何を知らせるためのものだったのか、ってことみたいだな。
他の妃たちのことを知っていくのが楽しみ。里樹妃が壬氏にぽーっとなってるのを見た侍女たちの反応ときたら（笑）
猫猫が後宮の暮らしに欠かせない存在になりすぎて、もう二度と手放してもらえないんじゃないかと心配（笑）
美しくなる一番の方法が、実は魅力を抑えるために塗ってた化粧を落とすことだったとはね！猫猫は本当に綺麗だけど、後宮に来る前の暮らしではそれが危険にもなりえたんだよな。とはいえ、素顔とその事情のおかげで、壬氏はますます猫猫に興味を持ったみたいだ……本人にとっては一番望まないことだろうけど（笑）
よりにもよって、たぶん一番腕のいい毒見役で医療の専門家がいる宴で毒を盛ろうとしてくれたのは、まあ好都合だな。

Maomao and the quack doctor becoming medical bros who can share a nice meal together. Although now I feel like he'll just keep giving Maomao more work because she's so much more capable than he is lol.

It seems like the real meat of this case isn't the "curse" but what the colored fire from the wood tablets was meant to indicate.

I'm looking forward to getting to know the other consorts. The way Lishu's attendants reacted to her crushing on Jinshi lol.

Maomao becoming so indispensable to palace life I'm afraid they'll never let her go lol.

All respect to Lihua, but Gyokuyou doesn't even need to emphasize her ample assets to look beautiful. Then again, I guess Lihua has more reason to want to appeal to the Emperor right now...

When the best makeover is actually removing the makeup you'd been using to downplay your attractiveness! Maomao really is so gorgeous, but that can be dangerous living the life she had before the palace. Though her natural looks and story seem to have made Jinshi even more interested in her...which is the last thing she wnats lol.

I guess it's good they chose to try poisoning someone at a part where probably the most effective poison taster and medical professional is on-hand.

猫猫が飴や服と一緒に、何か分からないものを用意してるって言ってたよな（俺が見落としてて、何なのか映ってたなら別だけど）。
たぶん吐かせる薬みたいな応急処置用の何かだと思う。伏線が放置されてる感じだったし、この作品はこれまでそういうのをちゃんと回収してきてるからさ。

She commented that she was preparing something unknown alongside the candy and clothes (unless I'm oblivious and they showed what it was).

I imagine it's probably some sort of first aid thing like medicine to induce vomiting. It just seemed like a dangling thread and this show so far has been good about tying those back in.

ラストが刺さる。話をもっと楽しめるようにわざと漫画は我慢してるんだけど、今のところそれが報われてる。次回はあの有名なコマがアニメになるっぽい？漫画のサブレでネタバレ食らった（笑）

The end really hits. I am purposely holding off the manga so I can enjoy the story better and so far its paying off. seems like next episode that iconic panel will get animated? got it spoiled from the manga sub lol

そばかす綺麗なのに。この作品には珍しい悪手だわ

Freckles are gorgeous. Rare L for the show

作品のせいっていうより、中世末期のアジアの美の基準の話だよ。

Nothing to do with the show and more to do with beauty standards in late medieval Asia.

あのそばかすには驚いたけど、理由はかなり納得できるものだった。猫猫がここで仕事を認められて人気者になってるのがいいね（本人は望んでないけど）

Well, those freckles were a surprise but pretty understandable reason. I like that she is being appreciated for her work here and getting popular(even if she doesn't want that)

人気者になると命を狙う敵が増えるかもしれないって考えたら、渋るのも分かる。まあ俺は主人公補正で生き延びるのを当てにしてるけど。
鎖つきの鉄球でやり合うような政争には、できれば関わりたくないね。

Considering getting popular can increase the chance of enemies who want you dead I understand the reluctance. Lucky I'm counting on Protagonist plot armor to insure she stays alive.

I'd rather not play hardball politics when the hardballs were metal on a chain.

あっという間に毎週一番楽しみな作品になった。フリーレンやダークギャザリングと張り合ってて、それでも一番なんだよな。
「地味な娘が着飾って変身する」のをひっくり返して、素顔のほうが本来の姿で、そばかすを描き足してるって設定なのがいい。まあ理由は確かに暗いけど。でも猫猫って、実用的な理由だけじゃなく、ある程度はそっちのほうが自分らしくいられるから化粧をしてる気がするんだよな。そこが面白い。考えすぎかもしれないけど、そういう雰囲気を感じる。
それと、この章では絶対に猫猫の腕の火傷の痕が出てきて問題になると予想してる。もしそうなら楽しみで仕方ない。「いえいえ、これは密書をやり取りしてたせいじゃなくて、自分の体で毒を試すのが好きだからなんです、本当です」
あと、妃の一人があまりに幼い（というか幼く見える、アニメの年齢だしね）のにはちょっと引いた。中国の歴史に詳しい人に聞きたいんだけど、あんなに若い妃って実際いたの？いても驚かないけど、そのあたりの歴史を聞いてみたい。

This has fast become my most anticipated show each week, and it's competing with Frieren and Dark Gathering and manages to come out on top.

I like the inversion of the "plain girl gets glammed up" by having it be her natural look and she puts on freckles, even if for admittedly dark reasons. But it kinda feels like Maomao prefers wearing the makeup not just for pragmatic reasons but to some extent she seems more comfortable with herself that way, which is interesting. Maybe I'm reaching, it's just the vibe I get from her.

Also definitely predicting this arc is going to have Maomao's arm burns coming out and causing issues, which if that is the case, I can't wait. "no, no, this isn't because I was sending secret messages, it's because I enjoy testing poisons on myself, I swear your honor"

And mildly disturbed by how young one of the concubines is (or appears to be, anime age and all) I'm curious for someone who knows Chinese history, were there concubines that young? It wouldn't surprise me if that is the case, but would be interested to hear about the history there.

>それと、この章では絶対に猫猫の腕の火傷の痕が出てきて問題になると予想してる。もしそうなら楽しみで仕方ない。「いえいえ、これは密書をやり取りしてたせいじゃなくて、自分の体で毒を試すのが好きだからなんです、本当です」
うーん、でもあの火傷の痕のことはだいぶ前から知られてたし、話が始まってから少なくとも数か月は経ってるっぽいぞ。

>Also definitely predicting this arc is going to have Maomao's arm burns coming out and causing issues, which if that is the case, I can't wait. "no, no, this isn't because I was sending secret messages, it's because I enjoy testing poisons on myself, I swear your honor"

hmm but they knew she had those burns well before hand and it seems like it has been at least a few months since the series has started.

ヨーロッパの宮廷にちょっと似てるけど、人質だったり政治亡命者だったり使節だったりする女たちを、まともな男のいない一か所に隔離してるんだよ。だから位が高いってのは、たいてい政治的な意味なんだ。一番の美人で帝の寵愛を一番受けてる、なんてことはごくまれだった。名誉職として高い位に就いてても、嫁ぐことも寵愛を受けることもない人も普通にいた。
外交の場でもあるし、帝の母方の血筋を誰にするかを管理する仕組みでもある。だから猫猫の主人が寵愛を高めて皇后に近づくことは、帝国の大きな地方どうしの関係にも影響するってわけ

it is kinda like the courts of europe, but they isolate the women be it hostage, political refugee or political emissaries, into one place without functioning dudes, so often higher ranked would just mean political stuff. very rarely was it aboslute hottest and most banged by emperor. usually there were honorary high ranked courtesans' who were never wed nor bedded.

It serves as a place of outer politics, as well as a method of controlling who the matrilineage of the emperor's is. thus the benefits to maomao's boss as she is increasing favorability to become empress also effects the relations between the greater regions of the empire

うわあ、もうちょっとだけ続いて、猫猫（ねこねこ）の見せ場で終わると思ってたのに。なんてずるい引きだ

Oh wow, I thought for sure the episode would go just a little longer and end on Cat Cats big moment, it's such a devious cliffhanger

コナン方式でやってたな。黒い影のキャラがニヤッと笑うやつ

They were doing it detective Conan style, a dark shadow character with a dmile

壬氏、ほんっっとに美しい。

Jinshi is just sooooo damn beautiful.

上半身裸の壬氏、すごく鍛えられてた。顔立ちが繊細だから、あそこまでムキムキだとは思ってなかった（笑）

Jinshi wad looking really fit without a shirt on. He has delicate features so I wasn't quite expecting him to be as jacked as he was. lol

マギのシンドバッドがそのまま移植されたみたいだな。

Almost like sinbad from Magi got transplanted over.

いい回だった……でもあの「子供」の妃、気になるのは俺だけ？？

Great epi…anyone else concerned about that CHILD concubine though??

色のついた炎って千空を思い出す

The colored flame reminds me of Senku

偽そばかすにまんまと騙された。

She got us with her fake freckles.

火傷の痕がある人を探してるってことは、誰かが猫猫の痕を見て決めつけるんじゃないかって心配になる。毎回わざわざ包帯を映してるし。で、もしそうなったら壬氏が守ってくれるんだろうな。

It makes me worried that they are looking for people with burn marks and someone will see Maomaos marks and make assumptions. They always make it a point to show us her bandages. And IF that happens I imagine Jinshi will protect her.

猫猫が知識と機転で問題に挑むのは何度見ても楽しいけど、いやあ、そばかすが何の問題を解決するためのものだったのか分かったときは本当にきつかった。
でも素顔を見たときの壬氏の反応はやっぱり笑えたし、最初に猫猫とぶつかったわりに、あの医者が気のいい人になってたのもいいね。

Watching Maomao tackle problems with her knowledge and wits will never stop being fun but man, finding out what problem that the freckles were meant to solve was absolutely grim.

Jinshi's reaction to her natural face was still hilarious tho, and it's neat how the doctor ended up being chill considering his and Maomao's first clash.

赤くなってる壬氏かわいすぎ（笑）

jinshi blushing was so cute LOLL

コメントを見てると、中国の宮廷の習わしをほとんど知らない人が多いのが丸わかりだな。壬氏が皇子だったらいいのにって言ってる人の多さはかなり笑えるし、個人的には猫猫自身が妃にされるんじゃないかとひそかに思ってる。

Its pretty obvious from the comments people have very little knowledge of chinese imperial court customs. The number of people wishing Jinshi is a prince is quite laughable and i also have a sneaky suspicion that Maomao will be made a concubine herself.

日本じゃなくて古代中国が舞台なのって、ちょっと変だと思うのは俺だけ？誰か全体の事情を教えてくれるとありがたい。ググってみたけどGoogleが役に立たなくて

Am I the only one that finds it kinda weird that it's based on ancient China instead of Japan? I would appreciate it if somebody could inform me on the entire thing, tried googling it but Google is s**t

原作は日本人が書いてる。舞台は架空の中国（いくつもの時代の要素を混ぜてる、とか）。

Source is written by a Japanese person. Based on a fictionalized China (e.g. combines aspects of multiple historical periods).

猫猫が園遊会で着てた服、なんていう様式なのか誰か教えてくれない？

Could anyone please tell me what the style of dress Maomao wears to the garden party is called?

ちょうど追いついたところ（漫画は読んでない）なんだけど、方向性は違うのにすごく彩雲国物語っぽさを感じる。それに猫猫がしょっちゅう壬氏をやり込めるのが最高に面白い。ただ、壬氏が猫猫の生い立ちや、どうやって後宮に来たのかを立ち止まってちょっと考えたのは、今回が初めてだった気がする。
この先どうなるか楽しみ。

I've just got caught up on this (not a manga reader) and it gives me such Saiunkoku Monogatari vibes, despite going on a different track. And watching MaoMao frequently own Jinshi is hilarious. Though I feel like this was the first moment where he actually stopped and thought a bit about where she came from/how she ended up in the palace.

Looking forward to seeing where it goes.

何話か前にここのスレで、帝の衣装に刺繍された紋章が位を表してるって話してた人がいてさ。それで気にして見るようにしたんだ。そしたら壬氏の衣装には鳳凰の紋章が入ってて、あれはかなり高い位のはず。壬氏って何らかの形で帝と血縁があるのかな？
それと、中国ドラマでお約束の黄金の玉座こそ無いけど、家具の木彫りの装飾がかなり細かい。このアニメ、絶対お金かかってるな（笑）

Someone mentioned a few episodes ago on these threads about the insignia embroidered on the Emperor's outfit being emblematic of their rank. So I started paying attention. And Jinshi's uniform seemed to have a phoenix insignia that should be of a rather high rank. I assume he is related to the Emperor in some way?

Also, while there aren't any Golden Thrones that I expect from Chinese dramas, the wood reliefs/carvings on the furniture are rather detailed. This anime definitely costs a lot lol.

猫猫が園遊会に向けて着付けしてるときのBGM、誰か分かる？めちゃくちゃカッコいい

Does anyone know the OST when Maomao is getting dressed for the garden party? It sounds so awesome

サントラは普通クールが終わるまで出ないよ。1月にまた見てみな

OST usually isn't released until the cour ends. Check back in January.

今回はみんなめちゃくちゃキマってたな

Everyone was looking fly as f**k this episode.

ここ2話、最初の3話よりずっと作画がいいなと思ってたんだけど、振り返ると最初の3話の作画が劣ってたわけじゃなくて、単に動きが少なかったんだよな。
最初の3話は大部分が人が止まって喋ってるだけの絵だったけど、4話の料理や家事、今回の訓練の場面なんかは細かい動きの作画がすごくいい。
正直ここまでのアニメ化にはめちゃくちゃ感心してるし、回を追うごとに良くなってる。あんな地味なところにまで滑らかな作画を入れる必要はなかったのに、アクション主体じゃない作品でそれをやることで体験がぐっと上がってる

so ive noticed the last 2 episodes seemed to heave much better animation than the first 3. But in hindsight it wasn't that the first 3 episodes werent as well animated, its just there were alot less movement going on.
Big chunks of the first 3 is just stationary images of people talking, while you have some great subtle movement animation in like the cooking and chores in ep 4 or the training sequence in this episode.

Honestly extremely impressed with the adaptation so far and it just keeps getting better. They didn't need to add such smooth animation to such subtle things but it really elevates the experience in a show that isn't focused on action.

なんでガチの子どもが上級妃の4人に入ってるんだ

Why is the literal kid top 4 concubines

政治だよ

Politics

どうしても魂が揺さぶられすぎる。建築、美術、音楽、デザイン、動き、衣装。まるで自分の魂とつながるような感覚なんだ。本当に何か…神秘的ですらある。中華の美意識やスタイルがとにかく大好きなんだよ。日本のも好きだし、もう10年以上どっぷり浸かってるけど、中華のはまた別物なんだ。新鮮さのせいかもしれないけど、とにかくずっと強く響く。
いずれにせよ、これでOPの意味がはっきりした。予想しとくべきだったけどな。でも一番好きだったのはそこじゃなくて、やっぱり空気感なんだよ。風とか…全部が。
最後の、ほんの短い、客観的に見ればそこまで特別でもない園遊会の幕開けの場面で、危うく泣きそうになった。自分でも怖いくらい変だわ

I can't help but be so overly soul moved. The architectures, aesthetics, music, designs, movements, clothes. It simply feels like connecting to my soul. It's truly something... mystical even. I simply love Chinese aesthetics and style. I also appreciate the Japanese ones, I mean, I've been immersed in them for over a decade at this point, but Chinese ones is something else. Perhaps the freshness, but it simply feels so much stronger.

Either way, this absolutely clarifies the OP though I should have expected it. But it's not that what I liked the most, once again, it was the atmosphere, the... wind, the... everything.

I was almost moved to tears at the final extremely brief and objectively speaking not really extraordinary beautiful last part with the inauguration of the party. It's so weird it's scary.

猫猫が回を追うごとに疲れていってるのに誰も触れてないのが不思議。前はベッドに倒れ込んで即寝てる程度だったのに、今は他人の服を作りながら起きてるのがやっとって感じ。この先、働きすぎで猫猫自身が体を壊して、それでも無視し続けるんじゃないかと思ってる。医者の不養生ってやつだな

I wonder why noone commented on Maomao being more tired every episode. Previously it was her practically collapsing on bed and immediately falling asleep, now she barely stays awake while making clothes for others. I think in future episodes she is gonna have her own medical problems due to overwork and she is gonna keep ignoring it. Kind of like doctor heal thyself.

猫猫がキノコ見つけてはしゃいでるのがほんと好き。あと「やぶ医者」が、嫉妬したりケチくさくなったりせずに素直に猫猫の腕を気に入ってるのもいい。楽しい回だった。猫猫や他の女たちが語る世の中の怖さと、壬氏の真摯で真面目な態度の場面も良かった。侍女たちの猫猫への接し方も大好き。園遊会もきれいだったな。来週が楽しみ

Do love how Maomao is excited finding shrooms. And I do like the "quack doctor" for not being petty or jealous or so and just liking Maomao's skills. Good times. Also enjoy this bit, Maomao's and other women's threats of society and Jinshi's sincere and serious attitude. Also love the way the girls are with Maomao. The garden party looks perdy. Excited for next week

この作品すごく気に入ってるんだけど、細かいところまで注意して見てほしいのか、それとも肩の力を抜いてだいたい額面どおり受け取ればいいのか、いまいち掴めない。無職転生っぽい感じがあって、意味があってそこにあるっぽい描写や細部が、語り手の説明が無いせいで「話の都合で飛ばせなかっただけ」みたいにも見えるんだよな。
だから何かネタバレしてくれ。この作品にどのくらい注意を払えばいいのか知りたい。
あの紫の髪の妃って壬氏と血縁あるよな？姉ちゃんとかだろ？本人より壬氏のほうが美人だけどな笑

I am loving this series but I can't quite tell how much it really wants me to pay attention to the small details or just sit back and take everything at face-ish value. It gives me Mushoku Tensei vibes in the sense that some takes or mini details feel like they gave to be there but without a narrator's description they feel like
something they couldn't skip because plot.

So, spoil something for me so that I know the level of attention this show wants from me.

The purple-haired concubine is related to Jinshi, right? Like that's her sister, right? He's prettier than she is, lol.

血縁、ね？じゃあ姉じゃないのか。となると意味がありそうなのは母親かいとこくらいだな。
いとこかもな。妃って跡継ぎを産まなきゃだいたい10代だったみたいだし。でもいとこじゃ壬氏のアレは守られないんだよな。やっぱりあいつは本当に宦官なのかも。でもそれだと関係が遠すぎる気がする。中国でいとこがどれくらい重要なのか、昔どうだったのかは知らない。たぶん大したことないと思う。一緒に育って姉みたいな存在、とかかもな。
母親なら壬氏は帝の身内になるからアレは守られるけど、帝は精力的すぎて35〜40より上には見えない。俺は30くらいだと思ってた。妃のほうも20歳前後の子どもがいるには若すぎるように見える。壬氏が頭いいならもう少し上かもしれないけど。とはいえ妃が30代で、彼女と帝がどっちも10代のときに壬氏を産んだってのは、当時なら普通だろう。でも最後のとこはやっぱり成り立たないんだよ、帝には男の跡継ぎがいないんだから。だから無理。
ってわけで、いとこで決まり。でも答えは言うなよ。気になってきたから

Related, huh? So not sister. That only leaves mother and cousin to be of any relevance.

Cousin maybe since concubines were mostly teens if they didn't yield heirs, but a cousin doesn't save Jinshi's junk. Maybe he IS a eunuch. But it feels too distant. I don't know how important cousins are or were in China. I assume not much. Maybe they grew up together and she's *like* a sister.

Mother makes him kin to the emperor which does save his junk but the emperor is too virile to be older than 35-40, I was thinking 30. The concubines also look too young to have a kid that's around 20 I would guess. Possibly older if Jinshi's so smart. But she could be 30 something and had Jinshi when boith her and the emperor were teens which would be normal for the time period. But that last part just doesn't work because the emperor has no male heir. So that doesn't work.

So cousin it is. But don't tell me. I am intrigued now.

音楽がほんとに最高。
中華っぽい雰囲気をすごくうまく出してる

The music is really amazing.

Captures the Chinese vibe very well

偽そばかす！

Fake freckles!