#the Apothecary Diaries spoilers

[justshipsandstuff]

Started reading the light novels for the Jinmao, but stayed for the shenanigans (volume 10-11 were Great!)

I pray for the day we know your name, Lahan’s brother. Your ordinary swag and your expert farming knowledge have captured the heart of regular peasants

[friedwizardwhispers]

Maomao: I need you to be clear about your feelings. Just straight up tell me, no more ambiguity.

Jinshi: I want to make you my wife.

Maomao: no, not like that.

[squishlamb]

the apothecary diaries LN spoilers

don't look at the clothes or anything for accuracy; i just needed to doodle this out of my system

anywayssss did we all see that anime s2 teaser..... so excited

listen to my jinmao playlist ♥

[alexiethymia]

IF THIS ISN’T DRAMATIC IRONY

[lukadarkwater]

Spoilers for the Apothecary Diaries light novels.

It’s so funny to me how Maomao is so averse to conflict and getting herself into trouble that she could avoid because she’s “just a simple apothecary” but at the same time, the Emperor himself is asking her for advise and writing her letters of recommendation.

It ties in to how she views Jinshi’s marriage offer. She still views herself as a girl who grew up in a brothel but I’m pretty sure at this point pretty much everyone views her as a power unto herself. Not to mention, she’s the daughter of her father’s powerful clan. She keeps thinking that he could find someone more suited to him, but she is perfectly suited to him. She has the social status to be his wife and not draw questions and probably already has the approval of the Emperor if he was asked.

She’s clearly wavering on her opposition to it by the point I’m at in book 7 and I’m still laughing at her saying she can’t tell him she loves him yet. Yet is carrying sooo much weight lol.

[robinmage]

one thing i really appreciate about jinshi's character is how he has NEVER once actually had any intention of succeeding the throne. every time the idea is brought up he immediately detests it. so hes giving maomao as much as he possibly can, even though maomao has many qualms about it due to their difference in social status, but jinshi DOESNT CARE because hes NEVER cared about or wanted the status of crown prince! its been nothing but a burden to him! from his perspective the ONLY thing keeping the two of them apart are outside influences. he has no doubt within himself-- hes horribly down bad, in fact. but unfortunately his stupid JOB is getting in the way of him skipping off into the sunset with his favourite little cat

[lilmisshungrytiger]

Fengxian: If you win, I’ll give you anything you’d like. If I win, I’ll take anything I want. Which board would you like to play with?

Lakan: *chooses Go….knowing Fengxian always wins at Go*

——————————————

The terms were set. He could’ve chosen chess. He was better at chess. He would have won with chess and could get whatever he wanted. But he didn’t want to win, he just wanted to spend time with her.

[avionvadion]

Get you a man who will not only pay off your debts, but bring you a weird ass bug that grows potentially poisonous plants out of its body because he knows you’d like it.

Jinshi is SERIOUS. 🤣

[dr-oxlong]

this made me laugh out loud

[aushina]

Episode 7 realization: Jinshi gets everything taken from him

I was watching episode seven of The Apothecary Diaries with my boyfriend (we're both reading the light novel but he hasn't seen the anime yet so I'm showing it to him) when he pointed out something that I hadn't thought about.

When Jinshi was a kid, all of his favourite things were taken away from him to--I guess--teach him not to get overly attached to things? Reasoning unclear to me. The ethics and even how effective that is aside, it taught Jinshi that the things he loves can and will be ripped away from him. And what should happen when a strange little apothecary becomes his newest favourite toy? She gets taken away. Of her own volution and only for a few days, mind, but Gyokuyō doesn't preface with that; she tells Jinshi that Maomao left, laughs, and then adds on that it's only for three days. I'm not villainizing Gyokuyō here. This scene is played for comedy and she doesn't know how Jinshi was raised. However, it does mean that Jinshi was smacked in the face with some of the worst possible news he could have received in that moment without the immediate comfort that it was only temporary.

I wonder if it's this moment that makes Jinshi realize that he has feelings for Maomao. The episode before, Jinshi gave Maomao his hairpin and those are implied to have some romantic connotation to them, but I don't think that's why he gave her one. I think he gave his hairpin to Maomao as a way to make up for all that she's been through; it's a way of saying that I'm here to help you if you need it and I will do my best to improve the system. But now, so soon after that, Maomao is gone; ripped out from under his nose by a faceless stranger without a word of warning. At least as a kid Jinshi could go to Gaoshun, Suiren, or (maybe) even his mom to beg for his toy back, even it was futile. Jinshi doesn't know who took Maomao and, even if he did, is aware that Maomao is her own person and can choose to leave to the place she was kidnapped and sold to if she wants. To an extent. If she just runs away from the rear palace, that is a crime and she would be punished for it. Jinshi is aware of this but whether it registered immediately is unclear and, if it did, that just adds another concern on top of his favourite toy being stolen away. And all of this together could be what triggers Jinshi to understand that Maomao means much more to him than just being an interesting toy to play with--to understand that maybe he cares for her more than just as a person he's responsible for, but as a person he loves.

I know this was a bit rambly but I found the realization very interesting and am looking forward to rewatching the show with this reading of the character in mind. ^-^

[eyesofanapothecarian]

Ahhhh!!

I love tamina on x (firmly twitter) she always makes me excited to read new Apothecary Diaries shit!!

[luchibelle]

🚨 Vol. 12 SPOILERS 🚨

Maomao? Choosing a name that her knight in shining armour, aka Jinshi, would recognise when (not if, when) he came to save her? How far we've come!

[friedwizardwhispers]

When you start the apothecary diaries and you actually get the revelation that Jinshi was switched at birth, you think:" Oooooh, I get it now, this is the story of how a simple Apothecary from the pleasure district became Empress and Jinshi will be Emperor" but while both Jinshi and Maomao are objectively good at it, the more you read,the more you go: "actually,nope this is the bad ending for both of them, neither of them should be Emperor or Empress, it would be extremely bad for them both"

[yumiayumu]

everytime ah-duo and emperor yang call jinshi as yue or zui i melt inside 🥹

[alexiethymia]

a flower by any other name would taste as poisonous

A butterfly flaps its wings and a hurricane happens in a far-off place. 

In this case an old eunuch decides to take a different route from his usual one. It takes him by the Garnet Palace, where he’s just in time to stop a loving attendant from feeding an infant a spoonful of honey. Sufficiently warned, the attendant never bears the crushing weight of guilt for the rest of her life. 

The infant still dies though. It’s nothing surprising. Infants before a certain age would always be vulnerable and susceptible to natural illnesses. It is no one’s fault. 

If the child still died though, what did this change? Surprisingly, a lot. 

Eight years later a boy is crying after having a favorite toy taken from him once again. 

A girl, merely a year younger than him, asks him in a dispassionate tone where it hurts. 

Startled, the boy stops crying. Eyes shining, he looks at this girl who resembles a wood sorrel and decides she’s his new favorite. 

How is it that those two seemingly random encounters could lead to this particular scene, one resembling a painting?

On one side, an existence like a celestial nymph, voice of sweet honey, a beauty that could topple nations if he so wished.

One would think that no one could compare, and yet the beauty on the other side was not overshadowed. She was a vision no less stunning for she was once known as a top courtesan of the pleasure district. 

It was perhaps fortunate that no one was a witness to this display for no one could hope to count how many hapless victims would be felled by such visions of loveliness. 

As to what these beauties were doing, no one could have guessed for in between them stood a single Go board.

tap

tap

“I must admit that while I was expecting a visit from his Imperial highness soon, I didn’t think it would be for this.”

The celestial nymph flushed. 

“Apologies for taking some of your precious time, Feng Xian-dono.”

tap

tap

The unfettered beauty took her time deciding her next move. The man who was also called Jinshi did not fool himself into thinking it was because he was a worthy opponent. Although he was used to using his excellent looks as a weapon, why is it that before this woman he felt as if he were merely a mouse being played with? A finely sculpted brow conveyed enough with one gesture. He felt as if he were playing two games at the same time.

“And? What is so important that the Prince of the Moon felt the need to risk Lakan’s wrath to come here? Why, you even roped Lahan into this plan of yours.” The cold beauty didn’t smile but he had a sense that she was amused.

Jinshi wondered. Did he rope Lahan or did that miser rope him? It didn’t matter. Shaking his head, he hoped he was equally composed when he answered, “I must admit it was that esteemed personage’s recommendation that sent me your way. Aside from him, only you could fight on equal ground with our honored strategist.”

tap

tap

Seemingly bored but only just, such that she could not be accused of disrespecting him, his opponent continued her queries, “And? Surely, you don’t hope to best that girl at a game of Go? She has utterly no interest at the game. It’s a wonder if she takes after us at all. I often wonder how she came to be so uncute, though of course Lakan would disagree.”

Jinshi would as well. Or to be more accurate, he both agreed and disagreed. While that girl was often distant, on the whole he could not help but find her adorable.

And from the shadow of a smile he could spy on his opponent’s face, he gathered that she was much the same, and could only dote on her daughter in this roundabout way. Although parent and child both claimed no similarity, he thought in this manner you could not doubt their familial tie.

Likewise with her father, though she only had disdain for the man (not that it would stop that eccentric’s entreaties to be called Papa from happening, thought Jinshi with a shiver). He’ll leave it up to Gaoshun to commiserate. 

That wary cat only showed affection for her honored grand uncle. In much the same way, as much as she protested, she and her sire were a lot alike. There was also their utter disinterest in anyone ordinary and unexceptional.

Like him.

Any other family would have accepted just by virtue of who he was. But it mattered not to this particular family who cared not for prestige or power. This family was content to keep to itself and occupied with its members’ various obsessions. Rather than consider it an honor to be connected to the noble line of the rulers of this nation, Jinshi thought that Lakan rather saw him as some annoying fly. 

And for that annoying fly to not only buzz around his beloved daughter but also to dare be in the proximity of his beloved wife, the only two people that eccentric fawned over and adored with all his heart, ah surely this was a perilous gamble indeed. 

But for an ordinary person like Jinshi, no Ka Zui Getsu, this was the only thing he could do.

Ironic that when he wanted it most, he could not rely on this excellent appearance of his, the only thing extraordinary about him. This family cared not a whit for that. At first he had wondered why that apothecary continued to be unaffected by him, but to have someone like this for a mother, he realizes she must have already been bored by the sight. (She had actually scoffed at him after they had seen each other once again in the rear palace.)

It left him scrambling, but also strangely relieved. 

“It’s not that I want to best her. At most I hope to be on equal footing.” Slightly abashed, he shakes his head. “In truth, it is our honored strategist whom I wish to have a match with. Though it may be impossible, the Sage tells me my best hope lie with the only person to have bested the Grand Commandant more times than even him.” 

Seemingly intrigued if the slight lifting of one brow indicated such, the once courtesan inquired, “Oh? And to what end if I may ask?”

How to answer.

Grappling with something in himself, Jinshi finally admitted, “Merely to be acknowledged, I suppose. To be seen and recognized.”

To be accepted. 

By whom, his companion seemed content not to ask if the curl of her mouth was any indication.

Maomao had often complained (though she would deny it with a blank look if asked) in a bland tone that she thought she must surely be adopted by the one she called father, for surely she had no resemblance to this beauty in front of him. Chicken bones she called herself. (Incidentally, she was adamant that she was not ugly enough to be related to the fox. She was, in her own view, perfectly normal. Jinshi almost spat out his tea upon hearing this if only it wasn’t unbefitting his station.) 

But seeing what could pass for an amused look on this normally expressionless face, Jinshi for the first time in front of another great beauty, blushed for he could only see traces of the one he yearned for in this visage. 

Truly, they were mother and daughter indeed. 

He was caught in a daydream of a scene years into the future, with Maomao dressed in such finery, of when he could finally lavish her with all his attentions as he pleased. 

tap

tap

The harsh clack of the Go stones brought him back from his musings and his attention onto the board. Upon seeing how he was completely dominated, he let out a deep sigh. 

“A long way to go, your highness.”

As if echoing his thoughts, an imperious voice declared his resounding defeat. If not for the twinkle in her eye he could detect, he would no doubt feel as if he was not even worth the heel of her shoe, never mind that he was the current Imperial heir. Distantly, he wonders if this was the sight that bewitched and entrapped that eccentric so long ago. 

Privately laughing at his own folly, he decides he was no better for it was the same look from that tiny wood sorrel that sealed his fate. Flowers could heal, but they could also be poisonous. He knew better than most. No matter. Regardless of the outcome, he would swallow her whole.

Truly there was a long way to go before he could turn that dream into anything close to reality. He doesn’t mind tasting defeat again and again for the chance of victory one day. 

Once more, he resets the board.

notes:

Jinshi and the Imperial brother are still switched at birth so he still doesn’t know who he really is.

The imperial brother still dies in infancy but not so soon after his birth. Since Luomen manages to stop the honey incident, the tragedy with Aduo’s head maidservant doesn’t happen later on. He doesn’t get punished nor does he get driven out.

Because he doesn’t get driven out, Lakan isn’t pressured into a military expedition to reclaim the honor of the family. He manages to redeem Feng Xian immediately.

Lakan still somehow ends up the head since his younger brother doesn’t really see himself suited to the position. He still ends up taking the headship from his father probably because Feng Xian was insulted or something and he wants to spoil her. His father and sister-in-law probably still end up leaving on their own like in the original timeline rather than being driven away. One way or another, Maomao, Rahan and Rahan-nii end up being raised together.

Maomao is still the same. Sure, she’s raised as a noble lady but she still spends half of her life at the pleasure district with Feng Xian, her sisters and penny-pinching granny. I doubt Lakan would stop them since this isn’t a conventional family after all.

Luomen probably sneaks in town undercover to still be an apothecary for those who might need it most, with Maomao accompanying him.

Since Maomao is raised as a noble, one way or another she ends up as Jinshi’s playmate. Of course, Jinshi still ends up attached. And of course Lakan puts a stop to it as soon as he can. It doesn’t have anything to do with any political maneuvering. He’s just an overprotective papa.

Maomao still ends up in the rear palace, this time as Luomen’s apprentice so of course she ends up crossing paths with Jinshi once again when they’re older.

And so the adventures of the young prince and apothecary still continue, fates still intertwined.

[branewurms]

HE HAS A SPLENDID FROG

A

SPLENDID

✨ F R O G ✨

eta I'm high ok