【海外の反応】薬屋のひとりごと2期13話（第37話）、「誰にだって秘密とお面がある。猫ちゃんも含めてな。」

新しい曲は予想どおりクソだけど、少なくとも映像はかっこいい。
2期を急いで出さなきゃ、1期と同じ作画の質を保てただろうにな。

New song sucks as expected but at least the visuals look cool.
I wish they didn't rush out S2 so we could've had the same animation quality as S1.

俺は逆だな。少なくとも新曲は耳に心地いい。

>>1

im the other way around. new song sounds nice at least

2期はここまで退屈だわ

S2 has been boring so far

同意。この作品全体が、10点満点の主人公以外は微妙なんだよ。

>>3

Agreed, this entire title is just meh except for the 10/10 protagonist.

寂しくなるな
>ゆらゆらり、はらはらり

I will miss
>Yura yurari, hana harari

あれ、ありがちなアニメJポップのサビが始まるまでは最高だったんだよな。

>>5

That one sounded so good until the generic anime jpop chorus kicked in.

前のOPで猫猫がやってた手の動きが好きだったんだよ、恋しくなるな

>>5

I loved that hand thing she did from this last season's OP, gonna miss that

あの狐面って日本由来じゃないの？　古代の中国もどきで何してんの？

Aren't those kitsune masks from Japanese origins? What are they doing in ancient not-China?

>基本的なパンを付けただけの止め絵ばっか
>無地かグラデーションの背景
>コピペしたあのひどいお面の画像
アート気取りの、繭が割れるカット1つ以外は、超低予算のOPだな。曲はまあ悪くないと思う、すぐ忘れそうだけど。

>all those still shots with some basic panning
>blank/gradient backgrounds
>that awful copypasted mask.png
Budget as f**k opening outside of the one forced artsy hatching cocoon shot. The song is okay, I guess, if forgettable.

>曲は悪くない
まさに無理やり宦官にされた男の歌声だろ。

>>9

>song is okay
It's literally how an involuntary eunuch would sound.

だな。1期のシャキーラもどきがひどかったから、甘めに見てるだけだわ。

>>10

True, I'm just being lenient after the Shakira garbage in the first season.

猫猫をほかのキャラの目線から映すカットはすごくいいな

>>9

Those shots of Maomao from other characters' POV are very cool

>日向夏先生は、ヒーロー文庫に拾われる前は小説4巻で物語を終えるつもりだったと語っている（それまでに起きたことや張られた伏線は、すべてその巻につながっている）。
>「最初から、4巻までをアニメにしてもらえたらうれしいなと思っていたので、ここまで続いたことに本当に感謝しています」
ってことは、今期のあとにアニメの続きは無さそうだな。作者は4巻で話が終わることに満足してるんだし。

>Natsu Hyuuga mentioned that before the story got picked up by Hero Bunko, she planned to end it with LN Vol. 4 (everything that happened before and was foreshadowed, leads up to that Volume).
>"From the start, I thought it would be great if they could make the first four volumes into an anime, so I'm very grateful that it has continued this far."
Guess there will not be more anime after this season then. The author is satisfied with the story concludes in volume 4.

周りが許さないよ、この作品はめちゃくちゃ稼いでるんだから

>>13

they wont let her, the series is making too much money

若狐のお出ましだ

Young fox is here

古代の中国で眼鏡って普通にあったの？

>>15

Were glasses common back in ancient China?

発祥は中国だけど、飾りだったんだよ。視力を矯正するレンズは無かった。

>>16

they originated in china, but they were ornamental. they did not have corrective lenses.

猫猫のおやじ（羅漢）、いつ自分のクローンを作ったんだ？

>>15

When did Maodad clone himself?

1期で、羅漢は結婚しなかったから甥を養子にして羅の一族の跡継ぎにした、って話が出てたぞ。似てるのは実際に血がつながってるからだよ。

>>18

It was mentioned in S1 that Lakan never married so he adopted his nephew to become the La clan's heir. They look similar because they're actually related.

羅半の眼鏡は飾りで、羅漢が見分けやすいようにかけてるんだって。
作者がツイッターで明かしてた。

>>17

Lahan's glasses are ornamental, he wears them so it's easier for Lakan to recognize him.
Author revealed it on twitter.

>YOASOBIのいいOPを外す
あと
OP1 > OP2 > OP3 > クソ > 耳に障るnano.RIPEのなんでも > OP4
異論は認める、かかってこい

>remove good tier opening by yoasobi
Also
OP1 > OP2 > OP3 > S**t > anything by nanorip my ears >OP4
FIGHT ME

YOASOBIの歌い手だって知らなかった。いいOPだったな。グループ全体のYOASOBIだったら、たぶん変な感じになってクソだったろうし、納得だわ。

>>21

I didn't know it was the Yoasobi singer. It was a nice OP. Makes sense because if it was whole Yoasobi it would've been weird and s**t probably.

>nano.RIPEをけなす
>ネタ扱いのグループを褒める
趣味が悪い

>>21

>shitting on nano.RIPE
>praising the meme group
S**t taste

カタログでずっとこれを見かけるんだけど。
猫猫（ねこねこ）のアニメって見たほうがいい？　あの子かなり可愛いし。

I keep seeing this in the catalog.
Should I watch catcat's show? She's pretty cute.

3〜4話見てみな、どんな要素が待ってるか一通り分かるから。

>>24

watch 3-4 eps, it shows all the different factors you can expect.

正直どっちも音楽はいまいちだけど、少なくともOPの映像はいいな。
>猫猫（ねこねこ）のアニメって見たほうがいい？　あの子かなり可愛いし。
中国もどきの国で、毒に取りつかれた変わり者が探偵や謎解きのドタバタを繰り広げる話だよ。宮廷劇と政治の駆け引きもある。それが面白そうなら見てみな。

>>24

Frankly the music of both is kind of lacking, but the OP visuals are nice at least.
>Should I watch catcat's show? She's pretty cute.
Poison-obsessed weirdo in not!China has detective/mystery shenanigans, with court drama and political intrigue. If that sounds of interest to you then give it a try.

アニメがもうすぐ漫画を追い越す。デザインや絵コンテの手本になる出来のいい漫画が無くなったら、このクールはたぶん苦しくなるぞ。

The anime is going to pass the manga soon. Without the good manga as guideline for design and storyboard, this cour is probably going to suffer.

東宝がどう料理するか見ものだな。

>>27

let's see what touhou cooks up.

なんで2期をあんなに早く出そうとしたんだろうな。理想を言えば、制作準備には最低でも2年は要るのに。

>>28

I wonder why they pushed for season 2 release so early. Ideally the pre-production period should be at least 2 years.

>狐面
もう漫画に追いつきそうなの？

>fox mask
They are catching up the manga?

漫画は月刊で、アニメは毎週だからな。しかも1話に漫画の何話ぶんも使ってる。このペースだと、来月には漫画を追い越すよ。

>>30

The manga releases monthly while the anime releases weekly. They also use several manga chapters for one episode. At this rate the anime is going to pass the manga by next month.

漫画版は2つあるんだよ。
片方は数話以内にアニメに追い越されて、もう片方はだいたい今期の終わりあたりまで進んでる。

>>31

There’s two manga adaptations.
One will be overtaken by the anime in the next few episodes and the other is pretty much at the point where the current season will end.

なんで同じ話の漫画が2つあるの？

why 2 manga series telling the same story?

税金がらみとかなんとか

>>33

tax s**t or something

たしか、1つ目のほうはまだ新しい話が出てるよな

>>34

the first one, I think, still has chapter released right

絵がきれいなほうの漫画は恋愛寄り。
絵が微妙なほうの漫画は小説に忠実。

>>33

The pretty manga puts more emphasis on romance.
The ugly manga is more faithful to the LN.

横からだけど、原作に忠実なのは絵が微妙な漫画とアニメのどっち？

>>36

NTA, but what is more faithful: ugly manga or anime?

子翠と楼蘭妃って同一人物なの？　この回を見てて、ちょっと似てるなって思ったんだけど。

Are Shisui and Loulan the same person? It occurred to me in this episode that they are a bit similar.

働き者の小蘭がとにかく可愛い！

hardworking xiaolan is just the cutest!

ここで猫猫の手を握ってるのって誰？

Who holds Mao Mao's hands here?

たぶん子翠と小蘭。洗濯係の袖だし。

>>40

Probably Shisui and Xiaolan, since those are the sleeves of the laundry maids.

あの場面は猫猫が小蘭と子翠のほうへ駆けていくところだから、あの2人のちっちゃい手だよ。

>>40

In that scene she's running towards Xiaolan and Shishui, it's their smol hands.

ガハハハハハハハ　里樹妃って笑いものだな！　笑いもの！

GAHAHAHAHASHAHAHAHA LISHU IS A JOKE! A JOKE!

里樹妃の宮まるごと笑いものだよ
ガハハハハハハハハハ

>>43

WHOLE HOUSE OF LISHU IS A F*****G JOKE
GAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

おっ、里樹妃について来てる唯一の侍女って、猫猫（ねこねこ）がとことん脅かしたあの子じゃん。
よくやった猫猫（ねこねこ）。

>>43

oh, the only girl who goes with her is the one catcat scared to the limit.
good job catcat.

猫猫がほかの女の子と親しくなったら、壬氏は嫉妬するのかな？　それとも相手が男のときだけ歯ぎしりするの？

Would Jinshi get jealous if Maomao got intimate with another woman? or he's only seething when the opponent is a man?

壬氏こそ、どの妃も欲しがる理想の女だろ

>>46

jinshi is all the woman any concubine could ever want

あのな、あの2人の関係じゃ、壬氏のほうがほぼ女役なんだよ。
猫猫に近づくやつなら誰にでも嫉妬するさ

>>46

Anon Jinshi is pretty much the woman in the dynamic their relationship has.
He would get jealous at anyone getting close to MaoMao

壬氏がきれいだからって、2人の関係で女役ってことにはならないだろ。

>>48

Just because Jinshi is pretty, it doesn't mean he's the woman in the dynamic.

紅娘ってなんで猫猫にあんなに当たりがきついの？　1人じゃ何もさせたくないって感じじゃん。

Why is Hongniang so hostile towards MaoMao? Like, she doesn't want to let her do anything on her own, at all.

猫猫はいつもほかの上級妃のあいだを遊び回ってるから、紅娘はそれが気に入らないんだよ。

>>50

Maomao is always frolicking amongst some of the other high consorts, which Hongniang dislikes.

紅娘の忠誠は玉葉妃だけに向いてるからな。猫猫がもう玉葉妃専属で働いてるわけじゃない今、信用する理由が無いんだよ。

>>50

Hongniang's loyalty lies with Gyokuyou only. She doesn't have a reason to trust Maomao now that Maomao is no longer working exclusively for Gyokuyou.

すごくいい回だった

very good episode

OPのお面ってなんなの？

what are all the masks in the OP for?

あと8週くらい待てば分かるよ。

>>54

Wait like 8 more weeks and you'll find out.

猫猫って呼ぶのと小猫（シャオマオ）って呼ぶのは何が違うの？　丁寧さの違い？

What's the difference between calling her Maomao or XiaoMao? formality?

そう
猫猫はあだ名で、マオは猫の鳴き声だからな。あの子が猫っぽい振る舞いをよくするのは、みんな気づいてるだろ

>>56

Yeah
Maomao is a nickname because Mao is sound a cat makes and everyone's noticed that she exibits very cat-like behavior often

俺の理解だと、小猫（シャオマオ）は名前を縮めた愛称みたいなもんだな。マオちゃんって呼ぶ感じで、くだけた、親しみをこめた呼び方だと思う。

>>56

To my understanding, Xiaomao is basically just a diminutive nickname version of her name; I guess it's kind of like calling her Mao-chan, as an informal/affectionate way of addressing her.

>OPにもEDにも出てて、2期ではずっと出番が多い
小蘭推しのみんな、気分はどうだ？

>shows up in the OP, ED and has been getting a lot of screentime in season 2
Xiaolanbros, how are we feeling?

半年たってもまだ続いてるぞ

>>59

6 months and counting

小蘭推しの兄弟たちよ……俺たち、めちゃくちゃいい思いしてるな

>>59

Littleorchidbros.. we're eating so f*****g good

生の漫画（原語版）ってどの話まで行ってるの？　アニメが放送を終えるのって、この章の最終話と同じ頃になる？

What chapter is the raw manga on? Will the anime finish airing at the same time as the final chapter of this arc?

>生の漫画
そんなもんは無い、WN（ウェブ小説）だよ

>>62

>raw manga
no such thing, it's WN

正式な原作はライトノベル（15巻以上）。
漫画版は2つあって、片方は4巻、もう片方は5巻をやってる。
アニメは今4巻の頭だから、もうすぐ片方の漫画版を追い越すよ。

>>62

The canon source material is the Light Novel (15+ volumes)
There are 2 manga adaptions, one is going through LN4 and the other is going through LN5.
Anime is currently at the beginning of LN4 so it will pass one of the manga adaptation very soon.

へえ、漫画のほうがそんなに遅れてるのか

>>64

Wow so even the manga is behind that much eh

壬氏のかえるを思い出しながら手を拭いてる猫猫ｗ

Maomao wiping her hand while remembering Jinshi's frog lmao

あの感触は猫猫に強烈な印象を残したんだな

The sensation left a lasting impression on Maomao

猫猫が興味のあるかえるなんて、ヤドクガエルだけだろ。

The only frog Maomao is interested in is the poison dart frog.

この回の子翠：
・噂話を仕入れて、中級妃とつながりを作るにはどこへ行けばいいか知ってる
・国の今の情勢の内幕をやけに知りすぎてる
・里樹妃がマッサージの場所に来た瞬間、目を合わせずにこっそり離れて、猫猫たちと一緒に里樹妃とジュースを飲まない
うん、もう怪しいって疑いからは逃れられないな。

Shisui this episode:
- knows where to go to get gossips and form connections with mid ranking concubines
- seem to know too much about the in and outs of ongoing country affairs
- doesn't look and stealthly moves away from Lishu the moments she comes to the massage area and doesn't join Maomao and co in drinking juice with her
Yea, she aint escaping all the SUS allegations.

胸の大きさを隠すためにさらしを巻いてるのを見て、猫猫の化粧を思い出した。かごに入ってた服には、別におかしなところは気づかなかったけど。
子翠のちょっとしたミスは、湯殿のことにはすごく慣れてるようなのに、先に体を洗うことも、お湯の温度が合ってないかもしれないことも考えてなかったところだな。

Seeing her binding to hide her breast size reminds me of MoaMao applying her makeup. I didn't notice anything odd about the clothing in the baskets, though.
A bit of a mistake on her part was seeming really familiar with doing stuff in the baths, but doesn't think to wash herself first, or that the water might not be the right temperature.

おっ、いいところに気づいたな。湯殿の建物には慣れてるけど、お風呂そのものには慣れてない。絶対に別の目的があるよ

Oh good catch. She’s familiar with the bathhouse but not the baths. Definitely has some other agenda there

どうせ湯殿で水辺の虫を捕ってただけで、実際にお湯を使ったのは今回が初めてでした、ってオチになるんだろ。

It'll probably just turn out that she's been hunting water bugs in the bathhouse, and only now actually used it.

中世の中国でポケモンGOやってる感じ

Playing Pokémon Go in middle ages China be like

それに、ここの沸かし方は知らないのに、温かいお湯には慣れてる。ってことは、どこか別のところでお湯の風呂を使えるってことだ

She’s also accustomed to warm water despite not knowing how the heat works there. Which means she has access to hot water baths elsewhere

先に体を洗わなくていい、別のところのお湯の風呂ね。それって子翠専用なんじゃないかって思えてくる。

Hot water baths elsewhere where she doesn't have to wash herself first, which makes me think they're just for her.

おまけに自分の体を洗うのもあんまり上手くないよな、泡のお化けになってたし。
なのに人のお世話はかなり上手い。妙な組み合わせだよ。

Also not very good at washing herself, considering how she turned into a suds monster.
But she is quite good at serving others, so that makes for an odd combination of traits.

子翠が画面の外へ歩いていくところ、ちょっと『俺が鎧の巨人だ』っぽい雰囲気がある。小蘭と比べると、普通の侍女よりはるかに頭が切れるのは明らかだし。壬氏のことを別にすれば、猫猫は子翠について大きな盲点を抱えてる

Shishu walking offscreen lowkey has "I am the armor titan" energy. Compare her with Xiaolan and she is clearly far above the intelligence of an average palace attendant. Beside Jinshi, MaoMao has a tremendous blindspot for Shishu

それに、仕事がまったく無さそうなんだよなｗ　侍女ってことになってるのに、しょっちゅうサボってる

She also appears to have absolutely 0 work to do lol. She gets to slack off very often as an alleged palace lady

今日は洗濯してたっぽいけどな。少なくとも、最初に出てきたときに運んでたかごを見る限りは。

She did appear to be doing laundry today, at least judging by the basket she was carrying when she first appeared.

視聴者の考察を聞いたか読んだかして、アリバイを作りたかったんだろ。

She heard or read the viewer speculations and wanted an alibi.

それでも、私は子翠を信じることに決めた。

Even so, I have decided to believe in her.

虫好きで人懐っこい変わり者が本当の子翠だって、俺は今でも思ってる。新しいOPのテーマどおり『お面をかぶらなきゃいけない』のかもしれないけど。

I still think the insect-loving friendly maniac is the real her. Even though she might have to 'wear a mask' per the theme of the new Opening.

誰にだって秘密とお面がある。猫ちゃんも含めてな。

Everyone has a secret and a mask, including the cat.

皇太后が姿を見せたとき、猫猫が隠れて、子翠も隠れたのを覚えてる？　子翠がなんで隠れるのって猫猫に聞いて、猫猫も同じことを聞き返してた。
要するに、子翠は身分の高い女性に見られたくないみたいなんだよ。
それに猫猫は、妓楼育ちだから温かいお湯に慣れてて、小蘭は身分が低いから水のほうに慣れてるって説明してた。なのに子翠がお湯にまったく平気そうだったのは変だよな……

Remember when the Empress Widow appeared and Maomao hid and Shisui went on to hiding as well? Shisui asked Maomao why was she hiding, to which Maomao asked the same.
All I am saying is she doesn't seem to want high ranking women to see her.
Also, Maomao explained why she's used to warm water due to the Brothel and that Xialang was more used to Cold Water due to being low class. Weird how Shisui seemed completely comfortable in warm water...

子翠がいろんなことを知ってるのは、これが初めてじゃない
それに猫猫が、怪談の回で子翠が誰かに似てるって言ってたのを覚えてるだろ
めちゃくちゃ怪しい

It is not the first time she knows about random stuff
Also remember that Maomao commented her looking similar to somebody on the ghost episode
She is very sus

猫猫の台詞を正しく覚えてるなら、子翠がまるで別人みたいに見えた、とも言ってて、特定の誰かに似てるとは言ってなかったはず。
追記：どうやら、両方とも猫猫の台詞だったらしい。

If I remember Maomao’s words correctly, she [also] said that Shisui almost seemed like an entirely different person and not that she looked similar to anyone specific.
EDIT: Apparently, both lines were uttered by Maomao.

そもそも、なんで子翠が前に湯殿で働いてたのかも疑ったほうがいいかもな。
子翠は贈り物とかをあんまり気にしそうなタイプじゃないから、たぶん別の目的があったんだろう。情報を集めてるんだとしたら、誰のため？　子翠はただの下働きの娘なんだし。

We should maybe also question why Shisui was previously working at the baths in the first place.
Shisui doesn’t seem like someone who’d care a whole lot about gifts and sorts, so she’d more than likely have a different set of intentions. If she’s gathering intel, then for who is she doing this? Shisui is merely a servant girl after all.

子翠の正体は楼蘭妃だ、って説があるんだよ。だから堅苦しい暮らしの息抜きか、探りを入れるためかってこと

The theory is that she’s actually Loulan. So as a break from her stoic lifestyle or to spy

この回だけでも、さらにいくつか手がかりが増えてる。お湯の風呂には慣れてるけど、『ここの』お湯には慣れてない。前の2話で、楼蘭妃の一族が北の湯治場兼狩り場を営んでるって出てきたのを思い出してくれ。妓女が受けるような湯殿の手入れにも慣れてる。里樹妃から隠れる。猫猫と同じくらい暇がある。知るはずのないことをたくさん知ってるのに、その情報や知識をかなり無防備に扱ってる（だから間者の線は無い、怪しすぎる）

This episode alone adds a few more hints too. She’s familiar with hot baths but not THESE hot baths. Remember Loulan’s family runs the northern spa/hunting resorts from the previous 2 episodes. She’s familiar with courtesan spa treatments. She hides from Lishu. She’s got as much free time as MaoMao does, and she knows lots of things she shouldn’t, but is pretty loose with that information and her knowledge of it (which rules her out as a spy, she’s too sus)

新しいOPで、猫猫がほかの人の目線からどう見えてるかを映してるのがいいな。いつも猫猫の頭の中にいるのから一歩引いてて、いい感じ

Love how the new opening shows how Maomao is viewed from other people’s POVs, a nice step back from always being in her head

1期の最初のOPを超えるOPなんて、いつか来るのかな。

I wonder if we'll ever get an OP better than the first one.

色っぽく踊る猫猫を超えるのは、ほんとに難しいよ。

It's really hard to top seductive dancing Maomao.

シャキーラっぽい歌声に合わせてゴス風の猫猫が踊るあれ、ずっと頭から離れない。1期（1クール目）の猫猫は謎の存在だったから、OPもその雰囲気に合ってた。

That goth Maomao dancing with Shakiraesque vocals lives rent free in my head. She was a mystery in the first season/cour so OP matched that energy.

来ないと思う。映像は猫猫が踊ってるだけだったけど、あのOPはマジで最高だった

I think we wont. That op slapped hard even if Visuals Were Maomao dancing but It was so f*****g good

あと、猫猫が親友2人、小蘭と子翠のほうへ押し出される場面が可愛かった。

Also that scene where she gets pushed to her two besties, Xiaolan and Shisui, was adorable.

正直、前のOPは名曲で恋しいわ。今回のも悪くはないけど、比べると見劣りするかな。前のは毎週フルボリュームで流してたけど、今週のOPを見たあとは、ありがちで本編まで飛ばしたくなる感じがした。前のOPは見てて時間の無駄だと思ったことは一度も無かったのに。

Honestly the previous opening was a banger and I miss it. This one isn’t bad but pales in comparison imo. I’d have the last one blasting full volume every week but I feel like after I watch the opening this week, felt more generic and skippable to the actual show. Never felt like I was wasting my time watching the previous OP.

小蘭みたいに純粋な子が緑青館で働いてる姿なんて、呪われてるとしか思えないｗ
もし里樹妃が昔の怪談の集まりにどうにか参加できてたら、どんな話を出してたか、これで分かったな。

The image of someone as innocent as Xiaolan working at the Verdigris House is so cursed lmao.
Guess we know what Lishu's contribution to the spooky stories gathering from way back would've been if she somehow managed to participate.

猫猫があんなに心配してるのは、小蘭が熱心で影響を受けやすすぎて、のめり込みすぎるだろうからってのがいいｗ
猫猫はまたスクービー・ドゥーばりの謎解きをしなきゃならんな。

The fact that Maomao is so worried because she's so enthusiastic and impressionable that she'd commit way too hard lol.
Maomao's got to Scooby-Doo this @#$% again.

小蘭には、妓楼でうまく立ち回れるだけの頭は無いよ。何考えてたんだ、猫猫？

Xiaolan doesn't have the intelligence to navigate a courtesan house. What were you thinking, MaoMao?

どうだろう。看板の妓女にはなれないだろうけど、野心のある子たちを脅かさずに、そこそこ客がつく中くらいの妓女ならやっていけるかも。全員が食うか食われるかである必要は無いし

I don't know. She probably wouldn't make it as a top courersan, but some mid ranking one who gets her share of customers without threatening the ambicious ones could work. They don't need all of them to be cut throat

猫猫は、妓女たちがその仕事の中でひどい失恋をする話をさんざん聞かせてきたからな。小蘭みたいに気立てのいい子は絶対に魅力があるけど、判断力が無いせいで、言いくるめられたり食い物にされたりしかねない

MaoMao has told her share of courtesans meeting absolute heartbreaks during their careers. Someone as good natured as Xiaolan will definitely have an appeal, but her lack of judgement could expose her to manipulations and exploitations

玉葉妃は、とびきりの噂話が聞けるなら、猫猫にほとんど何でもやらせるだろうな……それが壬氏×猫猫の話ならなおさら

Gyoukyou would let Maomao do pretty much anything if It means hearing the juiciest gossip... and if it's to do with Jinshi x MaoMao

まあ、人を陥れようとするやつがいる場所では、噂話はいい情報だからな

To be fair gossip on a place where people are trying to hurt others is good knowledge

妊娠中の妃でいることがどれだけ危ないかを考えれば、なおさらだよ。

Especially considering how risky it is just being a pregnant concubine.

だな、後宮では噂話が生死を分けることもある。

Yeah, in the rear palace, gossip can mean the difference between life and death.

玉葉妃がいちばんの勝負師だよ。みんな楼蘭妃と梨花妃を警戒してるし、里樹妃は誰にも敬われてない。玉葉妃は表向きは優しいけど、侍女はいちばん優秀だし、後宮の空気をよくつかんでる

Gyokuyou is the best player of the game. Everyone is wary of Loulan and Lihua, no one respects Lishu. Gyokuyou is outwardly nice, but has the best staff and is in tune with the mood of the palace

玉葉妃がどれだけ用心深いか、コメントしてる人の多く（と猫猫）は分かってないと思う。（いい意味でね。）侍女は最も信頼できる者だけに、とことんまで絞ってる。猫猫がいったい何をしてこの選ばれた輪に入れたのか、侍女たちが公然と首をかしげるくらいにね。
噂話と引き換えに、自分の侍女をほかの妃に貸すのも大歓迎。間違いなく策士だよ。平和主義の策士であってほしいけど、策士なのは確か。

I don't think a lot of commenters (and Maomao) really appreciate how paranoid Gyokuyou is. (In a good way.) She keeps her staff to an absolute barebones minimum of the most trusted individuals possible. To the point where her staff is openly baffled as to what the hell Maomao did to get into the exclusive club.
She's more than happy to have her staff service other concubines in exchange for gossip and rumors. She is absolutely a schemer. A pacifistic one I hope, but a schemer.

最初に玉葉妃が猫猫を喜んで雇ったのもそれが理由だよ。鈴麗の命を救ったっていう最初の行いで、信用できることを疑いの余地なく証明したんだから。

Another reason she was so happy to employ Maomao at first, cause she proved without a shadow of a doubt that she was trustworthy by her first act of saving Lingli's life.

だな、しかもそれを目立たないようにやろうとしてた。褒美とかが目当てじゃなかったってことだ。
そのうえ猫猫は頭がめちゃくちゃ切れるし、毒に体を慣らしてて味で毒を見分けられるから、毒見役にうってつけ。猫猫にとってはずっと危険の少ない仕事になる（信頼できる忠実な侍女の命を危険にさらさずに済む）。

Aye, and she tried to do it discreetly aa well so she wasn't in it just for the sake of a reward or something.
And on top of that she's sharp as hell and makes for a good poison taster due to mithridatic resistance to poison and being able to identify the poisons based on taste so it's a significantly less dangerous job for her (no risking the life of a trustworthy and loyal attendant).

そう、実利で言えば、猫猫は玉葉妃にとって文字どおり歩く最強の駒なんだよ。裏切る危険は見当たらないし、後宮でめちゃくちゃ役に立つ知恵と技術をどっさり持ってる。

Yup, if we're talking pragmatically, Maomao is literally a walking powerhouse pawn for Gyokuyou. No discernable risk of betrayal and she comes with a treasure trove of ideas and skillset that's extremely useful within the rear palace.

ほんと、すごい人材だよ。しかも大きな勢力争いに加わる気も、誰かを操ろうとする気も無いんだから、あれだけ多くの人に気に入られるのも当然だ。助けを求めれば、できる限りのことをしてくれる。

Yeah, she's an incredible asset. And considering she's not interested in playing the great game or tries to influence anyone, it's no surprise she's gained the favour of so many people. If you ask her for aid, she will do so to the best of her ability.

先頭を走ってるときのほうが平和主義でいるのは楽だからな。それに、最初に男の子を産んだほうが皇后に一歩近づくとはいっても、いつもそうなるとは限らない。たとえばヒュッレムと、スレイマン大帝（立法帝）の宮廷を見てみな。

It's easier to be a pacifist when you're the frontrunner. And hey, just because the first born son gets a leg up on becoming empress, that isn't always how things play out. ie, look at Roxelana and the court of Suleyman the Magnificent/Lawgiver.

梨花妃の息子が東宮だったとき、玉葉妃は本気で助けようとしてたぞ。梨花妃が忠告を無視したのは玉葉妃のせいじゃない。

She did actively try to save Liuhas son when he was the first prince. It's not her fault Liuha ignored her advice.

公平に言えば、梨花妃のせいでもなかったけどな。名前忘れたけど、あの侍女が積極的に足を引っぱろうとしてたんだから。

To be fair, it wasn't Lihua's fault, either. The whatshername maid in waiting was actively trying to sabotage her.

梨花妃の従姉妹の杏が、警告の手紙を捨てたんだよ。
でも玉葉妃は梨花妃に直接言いにも行って、取り合ってもらえなかった。

Lihua’s cousin, Shin, threw away the warning letter.
But Gyokuyou also went to told Lihua directly and was dismissed.

猫猫の生い立ちや、壬氏やほかの妃との関係をたぶん知ってる玉葉妃と、
猫猫の正体を知らずに、影響力のある人たちのまわりをうろつく猫猫を見てる侍女たち、っていう対比がすごくいい
手柄を主張しないから直接狙われずに済んでるけど、そのせいで、この『役立たず』の毒見役がやたらうろついてるのが、ますます怪しく見えるんだよね

it’s a great contrast to see Gyokuyou who presumably knows Maomao’s family history and her relationships with Jinshi and other consorts
VS her palace maids who don’t know Maomao’s identity watching her hovering around high-influence individuals
by her not claiming credit, she avoids a direct target on her back, however, it makes her constant presence all the more sus since this “useless” poison taster hangs around too much

今の子翠に対する視聴者の見方も、それと似てるよな。これまで見てきた限り、子翠は自称してる身分のわりに、暇も政治の知識も異常に多い。それに胸にさらしを巻いてるのは、猫猫がそばかすを描いてるのと似てる。
もう一つ面白いのは、OPの大部分が、子翠の目線で猫猫と関わる場面と、猫猫の目線で子翠と関わる場面を交互に映してるっぽいことだな。
目線ってのが、このクールの初回からもう繰り返しのテーマになってるみたいだ。

We also get something similar in the audience's view of Shisui currently. From everything we've seen of her so far, she has an abnormal amount of free time and political knowledge for what she claims to be. And then there's her binding her chest, which is comparable to Maomao wearing fake freckles.
Also doubly interesting that large parts of the OP seem to be alternating between Shisui's POV interacting with Maomao and Maomao's POV interacting with Shisui.
Looks like POV is already a recurring theme in this cour from the first episode.

侍女たちの目には、猫猫は皇帝直属の手先か何かに見えてるのかもしれないな。
『ただの下働き』にしては自由がききすぎてるし、上の人たち（玉葉妃だけじゃない）はとんでもなく猫猫を気に入って話を聞くし、毒に詳しくて毒も効かない……
なんだかんだ言って、ひょろっとした下働きの娘が実はある種の密偵だなんて、誰が疑う？

In their eyes, it's possible they view her as a direct agent of the Emperor or something.
She's given way too much leeway for "just a servant", the higher ups (not just Lady G) favour her to a ridiculous degree and listen to her, she knows about poisons and is resistant to them...
After all, who would suspect a slip of a servant girl basically being a secret agent of a type?

紅娘のお説教を止められる唯一のものは、猫猫の騒ぎを面白がる玉葉妃だな。

The only thing that can stop a Hongniang lecture is Gyokuyou enjoying Maomao's antics.

玉葉妃は実家に送る役立つ情報に耳を澄ませてるって話も前に出てたから、すごく玉葉妃らしいよ。それに妊娠の噂だけでも、猫猫をあそこに行かせて探らせる価値があるしね。

We’ve also heard about her keeping an ear out for useful intel to send home, so it’s quite in-character for her. And even just the pregnancy rumors are a useful thing to have Maomao there to gauge.

海に行かない水着回、って感じの回だったな。で、来週からはいつもの『CSI：猫猫』に戻るわけだ

I guess we got a beach episode without going to the beach, so to speak, and then back to the regularly scheduled CSI:maomao next week