WRITTEN BY HYUGA NATSU
THIS STORY IS A FICTION AND ALL NAMES OF FIGURES AND ORGANIZATIONS ARE FICTITIOUS.
MOREOVER, THE STORY HAS NO RELATION TO REAL-LIFE INCIDENTS AND EVENTS.
A few high-ranking officials who grasped the situation
have already gone out to search, but…
Where in the world could he have gone?
Maybe he disappeared with his female attendant.
A secret date?
No way. That’s ridiculous.
However…
It’s been two hours since he left his seat.
I’ve sent subordinates to search for him, but there’s been no progress.
Right now, I can’t rely on my father either.
Earlier, he seemed to have given
some sort of order to that maid.
But still, no matter what the master said, I should have gone with him.
I’m sick of playing a meaningless role.
If only the host
would bring this gathering to an end.
Shishou.
As always,
he’s a man whose thoughts are impossible to read.
That said, he wouldn't want any trouble
at a banquet he's hosting.
Which means…
This matter likely has nothing to do with Shishou.
It’s warm.
And there's a faint scent of incense as well.
But more importantly, this is…?
What is this?
Is it that frog from earlier?
It’s too big for that, though.
Sorry, but…
could you move your hand away from there?
There’s a situation down there.
A situation?
It can’t be.
A eunuch who enters the rear palace…
should not have this.
But he does.
Thinking back, he never acted like a eunuch.
There are plenty of things that come to mind,
but maybe I unconsciously avoided thinking about them.
He has the face of a celestial maiden,
but Lord Jinshi is…
In a way, this saves me the trouble of having to explain.
I want to tell you something.
No, I must not hear any more.
That is why I brought you along this time.
Once I hear this, I’ll have to take it to the grave.
Apothecary, I--
My apologies!
I might have crushed a frog.
Huh? A frog?
It suddenly fell from above,
and I lost my balance.
Are you injured?
-No, that was not a frog-- -It was a frog!
A frog. That was a frog.
Come on, let’s hurry up and get out of here.
A frog, you say?
If it wasn’t a frog, then what was it?
Frogs are usually smaller, aren’t they?
In this season, there are plenty of fairly large frogs.
Fairly…?
Yes, fairly!
If it wasn’t a fairly large frog, then what was it that was fairly large, huh?
Hey! What are you wiping your hands for?
Well, frogs are gross, right?
They secrete mucus and all.
Gross…?
What about mucus!
Anyway,
I know nothing.
Knowing too much is never a good thing.
Lord Jinshi is a high-ranking official, and I am merely a servant.
Nothing more, nothing less.
There's no need to know unnecessary secrets.
Do you want to check?
I definitely went too far with the provocation!
What should I do? Should I kick him?
What was that?
Well done.
Hey! What’s wrong, boy?
Suddenly running off like that.
This voice…
Lord Lihaku!
Could you please pull us up?
Huh? Young lady!
What are you doing in a place like that?
I see.
So, you were targeted by a gun and had to jump into the waterfall.
They fired, but I couldn’t see their faces.
I’m glad you’re safe.
So, why are you with this guy?
It’s hard to explain.
Ah, well, whatever.
Can you tell me
which men brought a gun for this hunt?
No one. Such a thing is unsuitable for hunting in the forest.
It’s more reasonable to assume someone secretly brought it for an assassination.
Shall we inspect their belongings then?
But…
The guests are all high-ranking officials invited by Lord Shishou.
I doubt any of them would keep an assassination weapon on hand.
Lord Lihaku, that dog,
besides responding to the whistle, is it trained for anything else?
It's able to find rabbit holes, at least.
It’s got a charming personality, but…
Ji-- I mean, Lord Kousen.
What?
He’s angry.
Well, of course.
After what happened, I couldn’t help but provoke him.
But he was trying to tell me something important.
And yet, because I didn’t want to know,
I kept on saying ridiculous things.
He is someone with great confidence in his appearance.
Even his "frog" must be quite dignified.
And yet, I called it "fairly."
It’s awkward,
but I have to say what needs to be said.
Perhaps,
we can identify the shooter from earlier.
Excuse me.
What is it?
This.
Hey, is that…
It’s my master's robe.
I found it caught on the river rocks.
There was no one nearby. Also, beyond that point, the current is strong.
With last night’s rain, the water level has risen.
If he was swept away…
Search for him immediately!
-Yes! -Hurry!
Panicking now won’t change anything.
Then, I’ll join the search as well.
What are you planning, Lord Jinshi?
What the heck!
Ah, my apologies!
What a poorly trained dog.
Damn!
There, there.
What’s wrong?
Lord Basen!
This…
This is my master's robe. Is this blood?
Was anyone around?
The ground isn’t wet,
so I don’t believe anyone was nearby.
I see.
However, this was found along with the robe.
A hawk feather?
Was it made as a talisman for falconry?
Possibly.
I’m sorry, but…
could I ask to check everyone’s belongings?
We found it!
It’s the same arrowhead as the one found at the riverbank.
I don’t know anything! This must be a mistake!
Then why was your arrowhead
found by the river along with our master's robe?
Loen?
S… Someone…
Someone must have switched it with my arrowhead!
To frame me!
What does he mean? Could it be…?
Loen’s reaction seems genuine.
And his men don’t seem suspicious either.
Then, why not check if there are
any other arrowheads?
Not just the riverbank,
but a thorough search of the forest as well.
Understood.
Conduct a thorough search of the forest!
Yes, sir!
Let’s hope they take the bait.
Damn it! What the hell is going on!
I don’t know anything about an arrowhead!
Did you find something?
Is that…?
Give it back!
You… You’re the guy from earlier!
It seems dogs don’t like you very much.
With this scent, any dog with a keen nose would react immediately.
So that’s why you didn’t bring
the dog along on your hunt.
The contents have already been confiscated.
There were three guns inside.
It's foreign-made.
Most likely the latest model from the West.
I can still smell the gunpowder.
They’re quite small.
I’ve never seen this type before either.
I see, it sparks using a metal component.
When gunpowder - made from charcoal, saltpeter, and sulfur - explodes,
it gives off a stench so strong that you'd want to pinch your nose.
A smell like a rotten eggs.
Yes,
it’s the same smell I smelled when we were shot on the cliff.
When we let the dog sniff the gunpowder,
it immediately tracked down this gun.
And of course, it also picked up the scent of gunpowder on the shooter as well.
What a smart dog.
Good boy.
Even though it was a setup,
I feel bad for the old guys who were used as bait.
Lord Kousen!
Basen.
What was that gunshot just now? Are you hurt?
One moment you disappear,
and then, I'm shown a torn piece of cloth,
and then I'm told, "Take me to this man."
I have no idea what is going on!
Sorry. What’s the situation?
The people related to this man
are being watched so they can be captured at any time.
So, all that’s left is to confirm the charges.
Understood.
After that, the masked guest returned to the mountain lodge,
and the banquet ended.
The midday disappearance incident
was officially handled as a whim of the masked person.
It’s a well-known fact that
at the banquet, a certain group disappeared.
From now on, those people
will never appear on the public stage again.
He looked tired, as if something had happened.
But as someone standing here in place of Lord Jinshi,
it is not my place to be concerned about that.
I still have a long way to go.
Was it too dull a spectacle for a eunuch?
No, I have been enjoying myself.
It must be difficult,
having just drawn the Empress's wrath and then being forced to become a eunuch.
That’s all in the past now.
Besides, the sake for moon viewing is quite fine.
I became a eunuch, cast away my name,
and took on the name Gaoshun.
Yet, during the banquet,
I was still treated as a member of the Maa household.
That’s how things are.
Still, it’s a pity that the beautiful eunuch
did not participate in this hunt.
Well, we have the masked one in attendance this time.
If such a beautiful face were to join,
it would overshadow everything else.
They say the masked one
bears severe burn scars upon his noble face.
I hear that even tonight, he remains locked away in his room.
The Emperor must be worried.
To think that "he" is the Crown Prince.
Yes…
"He," huh?
There is no sign of reverence toward the Crown Prince.
So, what of it?
Since the death of the previous Prince,
has any consort conceived a child?
I’m afraid I don’t know.
Apologies, I may have had a bit too much to drink.
Everyone is watching, trying to determine
whether the guest of honor for this hunt…
that is, His Majesty’s younger brother
is truly fit to inherit the throne.
I wonder…
Has Lord Jinshi told Xiaomao the truth?
She must be informed
in order to prepare for the challenges ahead.
She is, after all,
a highly valuable asset.
It may sound cruel,
but the more usable pieces we have, the better.
Yet again, this affair has left an unpleasant aftertaste.
Just like back then…
There’s still a lot we don’t know about
the source of the gun and their true intentions.
It's foreign-made.
Most likely the latest model from the West.
The West, huh?
Identical envoys, like two mirror images.
The story that one daughter managed to slip out of her room while being watched.
Most likely, that story is about the twin envoys.
What exactly was she doing
sneaking out of her room?
Was she plotting some treachery,
like the younger sister who became pregnant?
Or perhaps…
I can only hope the men we captured today can give us some answers.
Got a moment?
Why is he here?!
Wasn't he at the banquet?
No need to open the door.
I must have startled you quite a bit.
Sorry about that.
I don’t even have to see your face
to know what expression you’re making.
I don’t mind.
If anything, I should be the one apologizing.
For saying it was "fairly" large.
I wonder what Lord Jinshi is thinking?
I’ve never been good
at reading people’s emotions.
The women who raised me were courtesans, devoted to their work above all else.
No matter how much I cried, I was ignored until their work was done.
In time, I came to understand,
and eventually, I became a baby who didn’t cry.
Maybe that’s why
I struggle to recognize both kindness and malice in people.
Even now,
I don’t know what I’m supposed to say in times like these.
I won't say anything.
To me,
Lord Jinshi is Lord Jinshi.
That’s how I truly feel.
Whether you have balls or not,
it’s not like I’d be looking at them anyway.
So it doesn’t matter to me.
To you, am I still me?
No need to be so wary.
I just wanted to give you this.
Along with giving you that,
there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.
It might cause you some trouble, but…
This is…
The reason I brought you on this journey was…
O…o…o…
That is why!
Ox bezoar!
A highly valuable ox bezoar!
The legendary elixir I’ve dreamed of is now
in my hands!
Ah. Sorry for keeping you waiting.
I finally got to--
No, that’s not it!
Thank you very much!
Well then, good night!
Hey! Don’t just slip away on your own!
I’m not finished talking yet!
I don’t want anyone to interfere!
I'm so happy!
Whether Lord Jinshi is a eunuch or not doesn’t matter to me.
But I do owe him for the ox bezoar.
If his secret is ever exposed and he finds himself in danger,
at that time…
I’ll make sure to turn him into a real eunuch.
Hey, are you even listening!
Hey! Listen until the end when someone’s talking!
In this country,
some bear the character "Flower" in their name.
-There are currently only two of them. -Apothecary!
The Emperor, who stands at the pinnacle of the nation.
And…
Lord Jinshi…
No, the Moon Prince.
You cannot remain in a temporary position forever.
You are the Emperor’s younger brother,
Ka Zuigetsu.
NEXT EPISODE PREVIEW
The next episode is "The Bathhouse."
Subtitle translation by: Abhishek Chand Ramola er.