The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 5 by Natsu Hyuuga

Author:Natsu Hyuuga [HYUUGA, NATSU]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: J-Novel Club
Published: 2022-05-09T00:00:00+00:00

Auntie Quack’s husband was the village headman, and the family’s house had space enough to put up some visitors for the night. Maomao’s group had been planning to stay at a roadside inn, but they ended up staying right where they were. Maomao was given a single small room, while the quack was put in the master bedroom, with Jinshi and Basen in a large guest room. The bodyguards with them were housed in an annex. There were more than enough beds and sleeping mats; day laborers would be hired when taxes were due, and there were plenty of furnishings on hand.

Auntie Quack offered to prepare the bath for them—they were guests, after all—but Basen declined, saying they had already put her to more than enough trouble. Frankly, Maomao would have liked to wash up, but she couldn’t contradict Basen, who must have been acting on quiet instructions from Jinshi.

Instead, Maomao asked for a bucket to be brought to her room, and she wiped herself down with a hand towel. She just took the sweat off—the water was too cold to want to do much more—but she did decide to wash her hair, which was starting to get oily. For that purpose, she put hot water in the bucket, but just a cup’s worth. She let down her hair, and then when it was good and wet she added some soap. She rubbed her scalp gently, methodically, working out the grime.

She rinsed away the suds and wrapped her sopping hair in a towel to dry. Her feet were cold, so she dipped them in the water, which was still warm. While she was assiduously wiping her hair, there was a knock at her door.

“Come in,” she said, but there was no response from outside. Puzzled, she opened the door a crack and looked out. She was greeted by the sight of an unsettling man with a burn standing there.

She didn’t say anything, just opened the door, and the unsettling man—that is, Jinshi—came in. The window of her room was closed—she’d been washing, after all—and the next room over belonged to Jinshi and Basen. The next room past that was some distance away.

“You can talk. I don’t think anyone’s going to hear us,” she said.

“Did I interrupt you washing?” he asked. His voice had its characteristic heavenliness. Evidently he hadn’t decided to try to alter it this time, which would explain why he’d been staying silent.

“Just my hair. I’m sorry for not being more presentable,” Maomao said, continuing to pat her head as she moved the bucket to a corner of the room. It was a cramped space, and the bed was about the only place to sit down, so Maomao remained standing, looking at Jinshi.

“You should sit down,” he said.

“My hair’s still wet,” she replied, giving him a look that she hoped meant, Why are you here, anyway?

Jinshi, touching the burn on his cheek, showed her a cloth-wrapped package. “I’d like to get rid of this thing for a while.

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