"Hey, everyone the timer is done we're going to start the next viewing now," said Toga.
"I wonder what we will watch in this one," said Denki.
"It will be interesting either way but you just never know," said Spinner.
[-The Heavenly Maiden of the Court-
"Oh, if it isn't sir Jinshi! Where are you off to at this hour?" asked a concubine.
'Now it's one of the mid-ranking concubines?' thought Jinshi.
"I was just on my way back to court. Did you need something?" asked Jinshi.
"No...but, um, may I interest you in taking tea in my chambers?" asked the concubine.
"I still have work to do, so perhaps another time," said Jinshi.
'In the course of one day here, I've been propositioned by a civil servant...given aphrodisiac tainted food by a soldier, and to top it all off...been invited into the private chambers of three concubines of varying ranks. Attempting to seduce other men because the emperor won't visit them...how very insolent. A concubine's rank is determined by her lineage, beauty, and intelligence. Of the three, intelligence is the most strictly graded. In addition to an education appropriate to an empress, it requires a sense of virtue. I'm sure a number of the little birds trapped in this cage...have realized that my presence here is itself a test of their character. Posting me to the inner court for the sake of his selections...my master does have a rather mean streak. Thus far, I've championed two women to the emperor. The thoughtful and quick-witted Consort Gyokuyo...and Consort Lihua, whose disposition is second to none...despite the rare emotional turn. Far from harboring ill will toward him...Consort Lihua is beyond devoted to the emperor. However...Consort Gyokuyo will most likely continue as the favorite. The last time the emperor visited Consort Lihua, who has all but wasted away...was after the crown prince's passing. He hoards all these women suitable for himself and the nation...makes them bear his offspring...and if they are no longer capable, discards them without a second thought. My master or no, I have to admit he's rather cruel. Those who are deemed unwanted are either sent back to their homes...or passed off to officials. Ah, that reminds me...of the mid-ranking concubines is to be bestowed upon a military officer. Anyway, there should be no trouble as long as I keep to the plan. But to do so, I may need to put that herbalist to more work yet...she just might turn out to be more useful than I could ever imagined. I'm sure she means to hide it...but the way she keeps glancing at me as one might a caterpillar...I've certainly met many before who've taken no carnal interest in me...but she's the first to ever look at me like that. I'm no masochist, but I find her strangely intriguing. I feel like I've discovered a new toy to play with. Better safe than sorry...,' thought Jinshi.]
"So, it was the emperor himself who assigned Jinshi to the inner court," said Nezu.
"Are the concubines not supposed to have other men in their rooms," asked Shoto.
"No, if a concubine is one of royalty, then they are expected to only serve the emperor," said Midnight.
["Well, I'll be off!" said Maomao.
"All right. Good luck!" said a maid.
'Though the term "panacea" exists...an actual cure for all ills does not. So my father told me. Taken aback by this, I began experimenting...in the hopes of developing a true panacea. But achieving that goal is still a long way off. Doing his bidding doesn't sit well with me at all...but this talk of making an aphrodisiac has piqued my interest,' thought Maomao.
"We've been awaiting your arrival."
'Urk! It's that quack doctor!...and he's with...,' thought Maomao.
"Hello, miss Maomao. My name is Gaoshun. On a typical day, I am Sir Jinshi's aide," said Gaoshun.
'Is he a military man...?' thought Maomao.
"I am pleased to make your acquaintance," said Gaoshun.
'Unlikely...seeing as he's here in the inner court, he must be a eunuch,' thought Maomao.
"As am I," said Maomao.
"This was, if you please," said Gaoshun.
"Thank you," said Maomao.
'Guess he doesn't like having a woman intruding on his territory. How immature...please don't stare so intensely at homely women,' thought Maomao.
"I've been told that you...are free to use whatever you would like from here," said Gaoshun.]
"So, we have a new person, and he is the aide for Jinshi. But I believe he is more than that," said Nezu.
"Do you think that Maomao can actually make the aphrodisiac do you," asked Jiro.
"I mean anything could be possible," said Momo.
["Is that dance part of a cursed ritual or something?" asked Jinshi.
'After using wood tablets for so long...having such an abundance of paper to write on feels like a luxury. Let's see...for an aphrodisiac...I'll also need...,' thought Maomao.
"Sorry to ask, but...would you mind getting that down from the two shelf for me next?" asked Maomao.
"At once miss," said Gaoshun.
'Compared to the hard-working Gaoshun, this fellow is...get lost if you're just gonna stand there and not lift a finger,' thought Maomao.
"Miss Maomao. Is this the right one?" asked Gaoshun.
"Yes, thank you. With this, I should be able to complete the...or not. This isn't nearly enough," said Maomao.
"It looks like an apricot seed...but has a very particular smell. What is this called?" asked Jinshi.
"It hails from...the southern lands of the far west. It's called Cacao," said Maomao.
"If you need more than this...we'll simply have to procure it. I'm sure we can find a merchant with some on hand," said Jinshi.
"Milk. Butter. Sugar. Honey. Spirits. Dried fruits...and fragrant herb oil," said Maomao.
"What in the world is she making?" said the first maid.
"She's using only the most expensive ingredients," said the second maid.
"Is she making a snack?!" said the third maid.
"And what might you ladies be doing here? Get back to work!" said Hongniang.
"Waaah! We're sorry!" said the three maids.]
"Is it really that easy to make an aphrodisiac," asked Uraraka.
"Not really now a days but back then maybe more common," said Midnight.
['I suppose powdered Cacao was all they could get. This should be more than enough. I've tasted Cacao only once before. "I received the rarest of treats from one of my clients today. You must try one too, Maomao! Well, what do you think? Do you like it? It's called "chocolate." Huh? Maomao? Maomao?!" We later learned that a merchant was selling it as an aphrodisiac...but it's an expensive product that has little place in a pleasure district apothecary...so I've never had cause to use it in my formulas before. I can remember the smells and tastes of many a poison and drug...so I have a vivid memory for food flavors as well. That chocolate I tried back then...it was the fats in it that made it solid. Now...let's make us an aphrodisiac! First, combine the cacao powder and sugar in a bowl. Next, finely slice the butter and throw that in too. Heat the bowl over warm water...stirring the mixture constantly until it becomes smooth. Then...add the milk, honey, and liquor...adjusting for your preferred texture and flavor. Last, add the herb oil and fragrance and flavor, mix well, and you've got your base. Tastes about right. Now, some ice should be perfect for hardening it, but...finding that in the height of summer is unlikely. In which case, I guess...that will have to do. Fill a water jug made of unglazed pottery halfway. Close it with a lid, and as the water within evaporates, the inside of the jug will grow colder than the temperature outside it. This temperature should be just right for solidifying the fats. Finely chop the dried fruits, then dip them in the chocolate. Line the pieces up on a plate, then float the plate on the surface of the water in the jug. Put on the lid, covering it with a woven straw mat...and now we wait. Well...they should be ready by the time he gets here. There's still some left over. Guess I'll eat it later. Oh, I've got an idea. I'll cut bread into cubes...to sop up the leftover chocolate. I think I can skip the cooling this way...now...guess I'd better see to the washing up,' thought Maomao.
"Doing some dishes? Mind taking this too?" said one of the maids.
'Ooh! There's herbs growing here? And here too! Oooh! Whoops, I got carried away...I'd better get back quick. I've got a really bad feeling about this!' thought Maomao.]
"Well, then she actually made it. I have to wonder how well it will do," said Izuku.
"I think we are about to find out," said Bakugo.
["Well, at the very least...we know that it works," said Jinshi.
"Hey! What is going on here?!," said Hongliang.
"Uh, well, you can ask me all you like, but...it's fine. They didn't go all the way. Ow! Ohh...looks like they must've mistaken these for snacks," said Maomao.
"It looks like black bread...it this the aphrodisiac?" said Gyokuyo.
"No. These are," said Maomao.
"Then what are these for?" asked Jinshi.
"My late night snack. I've built up a tolerance for alcohol and stimulants...so they don't do too much to me," said Maomao.
'Alcohol can be categorized as a type of medicine. The more sensitive a person is to a particular drug, the greater its impact. Even this bread, which qualifies as an aphrodisiac here...would have little effect on the people where cacao comes from, I should think,' thought Maomao.
"Ohh? So I would probably be all right if I ate it, then?" said Jinshi.
"Don't even think about it!" said Gaoshun and Hongliang.
"I was only kidding!" said Jinshi.
'What an outrageous thing to say in front of the emperor's favorite...if he...with those looks...were to come on the someone with blush on his face...I'm sure it would be enough to make anyone lose their head, man or woman. I suppose being so gratuitously blessed with beauty is its own kind of problem,' thought Maomao.
"A warning about the aphrodisiac...it's quite effective, so please only eat one piece at a time. Ingest too many, and the increased blood flow will cause a nosebleed," said Maomao.
"If they work as well as you say, perhaps I should have you make me some the emperor. To spice things up, you know!" said Gyokuyo.
"I believe this is three times stronger than the usual invigorant you give him," said Maomao.
"Three times...? Perhaps I'll just stick to the usual...," said Gyokuyo.
"With that said...please make use of these in private, when along with an intended partner," said Maomao.
"Very well," said Jinshi.
"Will you take your leave?" asked Gaoshun.
"Yes," said Jinshi.
"We'll do the same, then. Excuse us!" said Gyokuyo.
'Glad that's finally over,' thought Maomao.
"My thanks...for going to all that trouble," said Jinshi.
"Oh. Now I see what you were after...well, just as long as no one gets hurt," said Maomao.]
"Well, that was interesting to say the least," said Denki.
"I wonder what will happen next but also what do you think will happen between Jinshi and Maomao," said Mina.
"Who knows. We will just have to wait and see," said Midnight.
(New chapter update. Hope everyone enjoys the new chapter. Leave a comment or vote if you did.)