Tad

The events in the western capital threaten to shake not only the political order, but Maomao’s personal relationships as well, and she departs the city uncertain what her future holds. A detour on the way home, however, gives her an unexpected insight into her own family. Meanwhile, Consort Lishu finds herself at the center of an ugly scandal. Might the truth of the matter help explain everything that’s happened recently?

Maomao attempts the court service exam once more, winning herself a position as an assistant in one of the medical offices. That’s only the beginning of her troubles, though, as a new consort enters the rear palace and brings new riddles with her. What does a former emissary to the court want with three young medical assistants? How is that connected to a mysterious shrine maiden from Shaoh? And will one particular monocled freak ever just mind his own business?

The whole capital seems to have gone Go-crazy when Lakan publishes a book about his games. He’s got even bigger plans, holding a Go tournament that’s open to all—and rumor has it that if anyone can topple the strategist himself, he’ll grant them any single request they might ask. Jinshi sees an opportunity. But it’s not all fun and games, as Jinshi learns when reports arrive of crops devastated by a plague of locusts in a remote village. All his attempts to forestall the insects’ devastation will soon be put to the test, and the outcome may mean survival or starvation.

Maomao has effectively become Jinshi’s personal physician, but she’s just a simple apothecary. If she’s going to give him proper medical treatment, she’ll need more than her meager surgical skills. When she turns to her father for help, he says he’ll only teach her if she can pass a test he sets for her. Even if she succeeds at his mysterious request, however, the truth behind the practice of surgery at court may be more than she cares to know. And only once she has the knowledge she needs will she be able to accompany Jinshi on what could be his most dangerous journey yet.

Maomao finds herself once more in the western capital. She tries to focus on her work—which isn’t made any easier when she’s paired with not just the quack doctor but the smart-mouthed young physician Tianyu. Meanwhile, Jinshi might be the Imperial younger brother, but the western capital has its own hierarchies, both obvious and hidden. He and the other visitors from the court will have to navigate these halls of power even more carefully than usual, lest they run afoul of enemies they don’t even know they have. Over it all looms the threat of the insect plague, which seems insurmountable—until one man claims to know how to counter the menace. His method is intimately connected to secrets buried deep in the region’s past.

I-sei Province is still reeling in the aftermath of the insect plague. Jinshi resolves to do everything in his power to help the people of this land—but how far does his power really go in the western capital? And will he regret his efforts when all the credit seems to go to Gyoku-ou? The local lord seems to have an agenda of his own, but Jinshi still doesn’t know what it might be. Meanwhile Maomao must deal with problems of her own, from finding relief for a sick child to unraveling the mystery around the freak strategist’s favorite Shogi opponent. Somehow, each answer only seems to lead her to a bigger question...

The tumultuous political events of recent days have left I-sei Province looking for leadership, but there are obstacles everywhere they turn. Gyokuen’s sons refuse to rule, while Gyoku-ou’s oldest child is unpredictable and violent. Jinshi decides to tutor Gyoku-ou’s other sons in the ways of politics, but they’re going to discover that it’s an even more dangerous business than they ever anticipated. Maomao, as ever, just wants to live her life, but she might not be able to ignore the escalating perils around her. In fact, they might not ignore her...

No sooner is Maomao settled back in the royal capital than she’s dragged off to a meeting of the named clans, and despite the posh surroundings, intrigue is the order of the day. Old grudges come to the surface, new ones threaten to break out into fights, and...is that a hint of love in the air? Maomao will have to navigate the twisting politics and conflicting priorities of the different clans—including hers—if she wants to survive one of the liveliest meetings around!

While pursuing the secret of the mysterious jade, Maomao and Jinshi found more than just the tablet’s owner—they’ve also discovered a forbidden book that has long lain hidden. As the book is gradually reconstructed, they discover that the knowledge and secrets within might be extremely important to someone very unexpected. Meanwhile, Maomao finds herself helping her father Luomen in what appears to be a large-scale drug trial...but what are they treating? And why?

皇帝の手術を無事に終えてから半月、季節も冬へと近づいていた。 術後の治療を上級医官に替わってもらったおかげで、 猫猫（マオマオ）の日常は忙しくも平常運転へと戻っていた。 そんなある日、老医官に届いた文を読んだ妤（ヨ）の顔色が変わった。 「怖いことになるかもしれない」。 その文には水膨れができた患者が増えていると書かれていたのだ。 嫌な予感がする猫猫だったが、その心配は当たってしまった。 「疱瘡（ほうそう）の発生」。 感染力、致死率が高く、顔や身体に痕が残りやすく恐れられている流行り病だ。 特効薬はなく、猫猫でも今から見つけることは不可能だろう。 感染が広まれば村一つが閉鎖することもあるという。 そんな絶望的な状況に一筋の光を放ったのは、 かつて疱瘡から快復した経験を持つ妤の一言だった。 「私が生き残ったのは、そのお医者さんのおかげです」。 疱瘡に詳しい民間の医者——猫猫が知るのは克用(コクヨウ)しかいなかった。 猫猫が時折、花街の薬屋に応援を依頼する、顔半分に疱瘡の痕がある美青年。 厄介な感染病の大流行に備えて医者はいくらいたっていい。 しかも疱瘡の知識と耐性があるならなおさらだ。 克用は医官たちの面接を経て採用され、妤と共に感染が広がりつつある 人口数百人の農村に派遣されることになった。 また、ある時、猫猫は壬氏（ジンシ）から皇太后の実家の当主の娘が、 とある人物に呪いをかけたのではないかとの相談を持ち掛けられる。 当主の娘とは妾の子であり、皇太后の姪にあたる病弱な梔子（ジーズー）。 その姪を助けてほしいという「皇太后からの頼み」により猫猫が調べを進めると、 梔子に毒が盛られていた疑いが出てくる。 そして、その背景には母親である妾の思いが透けて見えてくるのだった。 一方、疱瘡の感染拡大防止に奮闘していた妤から話を聞いていた猫猫に、 大きな疑問が浮かんだ。 「その疱瘡はどこから来たのか?」。 疱瘡の感染源を調べるうちに、猫猫たちは衝撃の事実にたどり着くのだが……。

Maomao has accompanied Jinshi on a hunting trip in which Jinshi is keeping his true identity a secret. But then they were suddenly shot by flintlocks and managed to get away by hiding in a cave where Maomao learns one of the many secrets that Jinshi has been keeping. Now she has to work with Lihaku to identify their would-be assassins. While she’s able to work out their motive, could it be that there’s much more to this incident than she realizes? Once this case is closed, Maomao is once again called upon to solve a mystery in the inner court!