The Apothecary Diaries

Maomao Grows Up as an Apothecary in the Pleasure District

Maomao grows up in the pleasure district under the care of her adoptive father, the apothecary Luomen, learning herbalism, poisons, and medicine from childhood. Her biological father is the military strategist Lakan, and her mother the courtesan Fengxian, though she is raised apart from them.

Maomao Is Abducted During Herb-Gathering and Sold into the Imperial Harem

While gathering herbs alone outside the pleasure district, Maomao is captured by slave traders and sold as a low-ranking servant into the imperial harem. She resolves to feign incompetence and go unnoticed until her term of service ends.

Maomao Anonymously Identifies the Cause of the Princes' Mysterious Decline

Two imperial princes are mysteriously wasting away. Maomao deduces the cause to be lead poisoning from white face powder and discreetly leaves a written warning for the consorts. This action catches the eye of the court official Jinshi.

Maomao Is Appointed Lady-in-Waiting to Consort Gyokuyou Under Jinshi's Direction

Recognizing her skill from the written warning, Jinshi appoints Maomao as lady-in-waiting to Consort Gyokuyou. Maomao cures Gyokuyou and her daughter Lingli of lead poisoning, earning deep trust. She thereafter acts as Jinshi's instrument in solving court mysteries.

Consort Lihua's Son Dies; Maomao Saves the Gravely Ill Consort

Consort Lihua's newborn son dies due to lead poisoning from white face powder, and Lihua herself falls gravely ill. Maomao nurses her back to health. The incident underscores the severity of the poisoning problem throughout the harem.

Dangerous Food Is Served to Consort Lishu at the Garden Banquet

At a court garden banquet, an allergen-containing dish is deliberately served to the young Consort Lishu. Maomao detects the danger and intervenes, exposing a campaign of harassment by rival ladies-in-waiting.

Maomao Leaves the Harem and Becomes Jinshi's Personal Attendant

After contributing to multiple case resolutions, Maomao is dismissed from Gyokuyou's service. Jinshi purchases her contract and takes her as his personal attendant in the outer court. This marks the transition from the inner harem arc to the outer court arc.

A Series of Suspicious Incidents in the Outer Court Reveals a Plot to Assassinate Jinshi

A warehouse fire, food poisoning among officials, and a craftsman's suspicious last will each appear unrelated, but Maomao uncovers the thread connecting them: a coordinated plan to assassinate Jinshi during a ritual ceremony.

Outer Court Lady Shisui Is Revealed as the Loulan Consort's Sister; the Shi Clan Revolts

The seemingly innocent outer court lady Shisui is exposed as a spy for the Shi clan and the older sister of the Loulan Consort. The Shi clan launches a coup attempt against the court, drawing Maomao into the conflict. Shisui disappears after feigning death through a poison-induced coma.

It Gradually Becomes Clear That Jinshi Is the Imperial Brother, Huazuiyue

It is revealed that Jinshi is not a true eunuch but is in fact the imperial brother Huazuiyue, secretly disguised at court. A further complexity later emerges: an infant swap between the children of Consort Ado and the empress dowager lies behind his unusual birth circumstances.

— Revealed across novels vols. 2–4. Jinshi's real name is Huazuiyue.

Maomao's Biological Father, Strategist Lakan, Reveals Himself and Confronts Her

The eccentric military genius Lakan, head of the Luo clan, is identified as Maomao's biological father and makes his paternity known at court. His unconventional behaviour—including breaching a harem wall to approach her—casts a complicated shadow over their relationship.

— Around novel vol. 4. The episode in which Lakan blasts through a harem wall.

Conflict with Lakan Over the Redemption of Maomao's Mother Fengxian

Fengxian, a courtesan of the pleasure district, is Maomao's biological mother and the woman Lakan has long sought to redeem. The circumstances of the attempted redemption and Fengxian's separation from Maomao are revealed, laying bare the emotional complexity between Maomao and Lakan.

Consort Gyokuyou Becomes Pregnant; Maomao Is Reassigned to the Harem and Drawn Back into Investigations

With Consort Gyokuyou confirmed to be pregnant, Maomao is temporarily reassigned to the harem to discreetly monitor her condition. Reaching the heart of an ongoing conspiracy, Maomao races to the ritual grounds to thwart the perpetrator's plan.

Maomao Passes the Examination and Becomes a Lady-in-Waiting Attached to the Medical Office

Nominated by Jinshi and Gyokuyou, Maomao sits the examination for a lady-in-waiting post attached to the imperial medical office and passes. In her new role she contends with eccentric senior physicians and is quickly drawn into a poisoning incident involving a shamaness from the foreign land of Saou.

— Novel vol. 7, the 'Saou arc.'

A Craze for the Board Game Go Sweeps the Court; Reports of a Locust Plague Arrive from the Provinces

A go manual authored by Lakan triggers a court-wide craze, and Maomao reveals unexpected talent for the game. Meanwhile, reports of a locust plague arrive from the frontier, setting the stage for Jinshi and Maomao's assignment to the western capital.

— Novel vol. 8.

Jinshi, Maomao and Their Party Travel to the Western Capital to Investigate a Bride's Suicide and Combat the Locust Plague

The delegation led by Jinshi travels to the western capital, where Maomao investigates the suspicious suicide of a bride and solves the case. In parallel, she works to address the locust plague, and on the return journey encounters the new figure Katsuyou.

— Novels vols. 9–11.

Jinshi Expresses His Feelings for Maomao; Their Relationship Begins to Change

During and after the western capital stay, Jinshi begins openly expressing personal feelings for Maomao through his actions. Though she remains characteristically oblivious, the distance between them gradually closes. A kiss from Jinshi marks a significant turning point in the narrative.

— A kiss scene appears around novel vol. 5.

Consort Gyokuyou Gives Birth to a Prince Who Is Named Crown Prince

Consort Gyokuyou successfully gives birth to her son, who is designated Crown Prince. The succession is secured and Gyokuyou is set on a path toward becoming empress dowager. The court power balance shifts and Maomao's role enters a new phase.

The Loulan Consort's Final Wish Is Revealed as a Grand Conspiracy Comes to a Head

After a battle at a fortress, the dying Loulan Consort's final wish is revealed. The grand conspiracy that has haunted the court reaches its resolution, and the fates of key characters are decided. This corresponds to the final episode of anime season 2.

— Anime season 2 episode 48 (series finale). Corresponds to the later novels.

Maomao Chooses to Return to the Pleasure District

After the court incidents are resolved, Maomao makes the decision to return to the pleasure district. Jinshi respects her choice and sees her off. Their relationship remains open-ended as it moves into its next chapter.

— The ending as of anime season 2's final episode. The novels are ongoing as of June 2026.