The Apothecary Diaries
This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
This is a bit troublesome...
Huh?
He usually doesn't hesitate to bring trouble my way.
How out-of-character for him.
What is it?
Well...
It's something related to an acquaintance of an acquaintance.
A metalworker who was the palace purveyor passed away
without passing on his techniques to his sons, who were also his apprentices.
They say some of those techniques were completely secret and unknown.
So, you want to figure out the metalworker's secret technique.
You make it sound so simple.
Besides, why are you so enthusiastic this time around?
Does it seem that way?
The metalworker's three sons were all his apprentices.
As the father died, it's said that one of the sons will take his place as the purveyor.
There were distribution instructions for the father's mementos in his will.
The workshop shack for the eldest son.
Furniture with excellent workmanship for the second son.
A fishbowl for the youngest son.
And one final note: "You all should have a tea party together, like old times."
A tea party? What a mysterious will.
Did he mean a literal tea party? Or does that have another meaning?
The sons have no idea after hearing the will, either.
The mementos seem very unbalanced, too.
A shack, furniture, and a fishbowl?
The younger the son, the lower the value, it seems.
What were those items like?
I haven't heard the details. But...
If that piques your interest, here is the address.
He said, if it piques your interest, you should go take a look.
How well-prepared.
It's like he expected this to happen. Interesting.
If I can have time tomorrow...
Yeah...
I'll probably get more work on my plate when I get back.
Episode 16: Lead
Oh, that's...
Basen, was it?
Like the last time, you're my follower.
Don't do anything unless I allow it.
Understood.
Like last time, he only says the bare minimum.
I don't think he likes me much.
If he's harmless, I don't mind.
Coming.
Master Basen. We've been notified of your visit.
Hmm?
Ah, yes, that belonged to my father.
He had a strange hobby, collecting weird things.
Huh...
Is that the workshop shack?
Yes. That said, we do our work in the main house now.
The shack is used as a tea house for the craftsmen.
Come in.
Hey, I brought the guests.
Yeah.
Thank you for coming out.
These must be the elder brothers, and the first man must have been the youngest.
The furniture is placed strangely.
Hey.
Indeed...
Having things in the center like this would get in the way.
The room still looks kind of nice though,
probably because of how the table weirdly brings the room together,
and how classy this chest of drawers looks.
There's metalwork on the corners.
The top row has three drawers. A keyhole in the center drawer in the second row.
A different metal is used as an accent here...
Hmm?
Is this bolted in place?
Hey, that's mine.
You're free to look, but don't touch.
Right, the second son was given furniture as his memento.
Hmph!
If this chest is the aforementioned furniture,
then this man must be the second son.
Which must mean that the tall man is the eldest son.
The window placement is strange, too.
It's western-style, and strangely tall.
Despite the ample sunlight that could have come in,
the huge chestnut tree outside ruins it.
The sunlight that gets in is filtered through the branches.
And this is the only spot that gets that light.
Hmm?
This mark. Was something placed here for a long time?
Can you really figure out what our father left behind?
That's...
You'd have to elaborate on your end for us to know more.
It's exactly as you heard.
Our father kicked the bucket without giving us the secret technique.
And the only thing he left me is this shack.
And for me, this chest of drawers.
F-For me, this.
Made of glass, so it's expensive.
I assumed the fishbowl would be wooden, or ceramic at best.
In that case, I guess all the mementos have some value.
What was he thinking?
Thanks for this gift, but it only has one key, which doesn't fit the keyhole.
Doesn't fit the keyhole?
This is probably the key for the center row, but it won't fit the keyhole.
The three drawers on top are supposed to open with the same key,
but the actual key is nowhere to be found.
What's the point of inheriting it?
I'm in the same boat. What's the point of getting this shack if I can't move the chest out?
What a bother.
Dad was...
D-Dad was probably thinking...
I envy you. You got something you could easily sell.
Yeah. It's not much, but it'd still be worth enough to live off of for a while.
I don't get Dad at all.
What possible benefit could there be to having tea party now?
Hmm, now what should we do?
The two elder brothers don't seem too fond of the youngest.
All of you, stop this!
That's no way to behave in front of guests.
I'm so sorry. I don't know when they started acting this way.
The two older boys have become so cynical.
And the youngest can't even express his opinions.
My husband was worried about them until the moment he died.
I guess being worried about your kids,
no matter how old they get, is part of being a parent.
Please enjoy the tea. Excuse me.
They all moved. I guess they each have a set position.
I suppose it must be just habit, in order to not block the window.
This time of day, the sunlight comes through the window.
If the sunlight reached a little further, it might hit the chest...
But there's no sign of sun damage on the chest.
Sun damage...?
Hey.
The sunlight doesn't come in for too long of a time.
Is something stuck inside?
Did you figure something out?
Ah! I was thinking he looked familiar.
He looks like Gaoshun!
So?
The center drawer with the lock won't open, right?
It used to open, but apparently it got stuck after Dad worked on it.
And there's only one key?
Just this one.
Dad said if we broke the lock, it would break whatever's inside.
So we can't force it open, either.
The mementos given to each son.
A shack, a chest of drawers, and a fishbowl.
The chest is bolted down in the shack.
The chest has drawers that can't be unlocked.
And...
"You all should have a tea party together, like old times."
Could it be...?
Excuse me. Was the fishbowl originally placed there, on that shelf?
Huh? Um, yes.
We used to have a goldfish in it, and put it here.
If it got too cold, the goldfish would die,
so in the winter, we'd only put it here during tea parties, when the sunlight kept it warm.
Around this time of day, actually.
We haven't had any goldfish for the past few years, though.
Hmm.
Hey, you!
I'm going to go ask for some water.
Darting off without my permission again!
You filled it with water, like this?
Yes. This pattern should face this way.
I knew it.
H-Hey! What is this?!
Don't touch that!
I'm sorry. It could blind you if it shined into your eyes.
Also, please step back, as you're blocking it.
You won't be able to unlock it.
It seems like the chestnut tree is casting a shadow now.
It's hot. Also, there's a strange smell.
Hey, what's the meaning of all this?!
Now, please unlock this drawer with that key.
I told you, it doesn't fit.
Please.
Hmph.
W-What's going on?!
Did your father happen to suffer from persistent anemia and stomachaches?
Yes, that's correct.
Nausea and depression, as well?
Those, too.
I don't know much about metalwork,
but do you use solder in this workshop?
Yes, we do.
What does that mean?
I just followed the instruction from the will, to have a tea party like you used to.
A mold for a key. May I remove it from the mold?
S-Sure.
It's still warm, and soft.
The metal stuck in the keyhole must have melted from the heat,
and flowed into the mold below it before hardening.
It's open!
What's inside?
What is this?!
This bluish crystal seems to be the same kind as the one near the entrance.
Dammit! What does he mean, get along?
We all just got played by his final prank!
What a bother!
Lead and tin...?
I knew a grumpy craftsman of a customer who said techniques should be seen and stolen.
I took that seriously and tried to make my own medicine based on what I saw my dad do.
I ended up poisoning myself, and...
You should ask first.
That was the lesson he taught me.
It seems like the youngest son was the only one who understood his dead father's intent.
I've heard that, by mixing several different types of metals together,
solder melts at a temperature lower than that of the individual metals originally.
Of the three chunks, two were lead and tin.
Those and whatever this third thing is might mix to create a new metal.
Also, the light was concentrated by the fishbowl,
but it wasn't heated for very long.
The melting point must be very low.
The differently-sized drawers might represent
the ratio at which the metals should be mixed,
but I don't need to comment on that.
What kind of will is this? Let's go.
What a waste of time.
Wait, guys!
It's not a prank.
What is it, then?!
Dad really did leave a will to make the three of us get along again!
So I want the three of us to continue working together!
Together? The three of us?
What a joke. You're different from us.
You have talent. Dad actually cared about you, and only you.
T-That's not true!
Dad always trusted you two!
He always told me...
Chang, you're always so calm and accurate with any work you do.
Dad said he could rely on you for anything, because you don't make mistakes!
Tzu, you're good at getting to know people.
He said you should be proud of your gift, the ability to be friendly with anyone!
Dad viewed the three of us equally.
At least, that's what I think.
Excuse us.
Oh, um, sorry.
Father... Well, it's got nothing to do with me.
Thank you.
But I should tell him just this one thing.
Hey.
There's an apothecary named Luomen at a brothel called
the Verdigris House in the pleasure district.
He's also a skilled physician.
If you start to feel unwell, please pay him a visit.
Y-Yes.
Thank you for the other day.
It turned out quite interestingly.
The youngest son truly was the most skilled, after all.
This strategist must have known all along.
He suddenly started to show that skill of his.
They say he'll take his father's place and begin selling his metalworks to the palace.
The older two sons are no longer going to work as craftsmen.
Is that...
It can't be all that bad.
They took the hint from their dead father, perhaps.
The eldest will take care of bookkeeping.
The second son will find new clients.
They're both going to help the family from different angles.
In other words, they all found their place.
I don't know what happened at the mansion.
The apothecary girl must know and is keeping silent.
The late metalworker's works were truly wonderful.
It was a simple metal part, but if used on a ritual utensil, it would look fabulous.
Indeed.
What an annoying person.
He must know, given my position, ritual utensils don't mean anything to me.
I wonder why, master strategist, you brought up—
Come now, I just didn't want to keep good talent buried.
Elder or younger brother shouldn't matter.
Those with talent should receive attention.
He has a point. Lakan may be a shady man,
but he definitely can discern talent in people.
It can be argued that he used that ability to climb to his current rank.
By the way...
May I hear the rest of that story from earlier?
Which story?
The one about the courtesan.
Ah, yes! The way to decrease the value of a courtesan.
You should direct that inquiry to someone who knows that world.
Oh goodness, the time!
My subordinates would scold me if I stayed any longer.
Please give this to your serving maids.
It's a good drink, not too sweet.
See you tomorrow.
Master Jinshi.
Hmm?
I'm sorry to bother you when you're so tired, but...
Did you need me?
Do you know much about makeup?
Well, yes, the basics.
In that case,
can you do my makeup for me?
Huh?
Next Time
Next time: "A Jaunt Around Town."
Episode 17: A Jaunt Around Town