The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 8

Then she heard a long exhalation, and Jinshi said, “You don’t have to worry. I understand.” Then he stroked her bangs. “Anyhow, I’m told I’m only decently sized...”

Maomao almost choked. Jinshi’s smile had never looked more wicked.

“M-Master Jinshi. Let me finish treating you, quickly.”

“The night is long still. We can take our time

Maomao looked to the Emperor. He stared vacantly back at her and Jinshi. “Zui...” he said. “Is this the path you’ve chosen?”

“It is.”

“And you won’t regret it?”

“I won’t.”

“My wife will have to be a woman I can trust implicitly.”

That made Maomao go pale in a hurry. She looked up; from her place in the crook of Jinshi’s arm, she could see he was wearing a fine smile.

Maomao immediately clapped her hands onto the sides of Jinshi’s face, but he smiled: “That was a joke.”

She let go of his cheeks, but she couldn’t let down her guard

She couldn’t help wondering why Jinshi was so desperate to win. What would have caused him to lay such elaborate plans? With the freak strategist involved, though... She suddenly got a very depressing idea.

“Perhaps Master Basen, then,” Maomao countered. He was Jinshi’s personal assistant; surely that would be okay.

“It would be my pl—” Basen began, but he was interrupted by the dull thump of his own head hitting the desk again, courtesy of Maamei. That would be two dents, then.

“You take them, if you would be so kind,” Maamei reiterated. “By special request of Master Jinshi himself.”

“I’ve come to deliver something the Moon Prince left in my keeping.” Maamei handed Maomao a package from which wafted a sweet aroma.

“Here. Your participation prize.” Maomao gave him tea and a mooncake, but she couldn’t shake a sense of unease. She remembered what he’d said the last time they’d spoken.

This looks oddly familiar, Maomao thought as people crowded in to watch the pair on the stage: Jinshi and the man with the monocle. Between them, only a Go board.