Shocking Secrets Unveiled: Maomao's Connection to the Palace Conspiracy!

The tension in the TV series known as “The Apothecary Diaries” has been steadily increasing ever since it debuted during the Autumn 2023 anime season. As Season 2 unfolds, it reveals more and more of the deepest secrets hidden within the palace, and Maomao often finds herself right in the midst of these revelations. With just seven episodes remaining after today’s Episode 41, titled “Fox Village”, Maomao becomes embroiled in one of the most significant conspiracies that “The Apothecary Diaries” has yet to unveil.

In the final episode of Season 2, Episode 16 titled “Festering Resentment,” it was not entirely surprising when Suirei reappeared. Given her staged death at the end of Season 1, it had been a known factor that Maomao’s cunning adversary would resurface eventually. However, what left fans intrigued and eagerly speculating was the reason behind her return. As we’ve witnessed throughout more than forty episodes in The Apothecary Diaries, everything seems to be interconnected in this series. Threads of plots often tie together, and they all seem to point towards a common origin: The Late Emperor.

For attentive viewers, the clues about this season’s storyline have been quite evident. Just like Maomao, we can predict where the Suirei and Shisui plot strand is heading, and even understand how it connects. Seeing every piece fit perfectly together solidifies The Apothecary Diaries‘ status as a top-tier seinen anime. As we near the end of Season 2, the intensity is only going to ramp up episode after episode.

Maomao’s Mysterious Disappearance Has Jinshi On High Alert

Fortunately, The Man Who Taught Maomao Everything She Knows Is There For Consultation

Among the aspects that bothered me about the latest episode was missing out on Jinshi’s response to Maomao’s disappearance. Given her sense of personal responsibility, he finds it hard to believe she would abandon her duties and run away, and rightfully so. Since Maomao’s father is now assisting Lady Gyokuyou with her risky child labor, there seems to be no logical reason for her to depart. Her primary concern in life is her foster father, and the rare times she has left before were with his permission to visit her own dad.

Despite the circumstances, Jinshi remains anxious because if she were to voluntarily leave her position as Consort Gyokuyou’s lady-in-waiting, he would be compelled to discipline her, an action he doesn’t desire. As they inquire about the last sighting of her from Consort Gyokuyou and Lady Hongniang, there are numerous worries regarding the number of people in the rear palace who she may have offended. Could it be that a group has singled her out, making her disappearance possibly irreversible?

Gaoshun and Jinshi subsequently pay a visit to Luomen and the so-called quack doctor to uncover details about his daughter’s disappearance. During their conversation, Jinshi expresses concern over Luomen’s seemingly nonchalant attitude towards his daughter’s vanishing act. However, when Luomen recalls an earlier instance where she was gone for over a year without any contact, Jinshi is left feeling a bit embarrassed by his own inquiry.

As the quack doctor indicates his departure, he points out that the cat had been anxiously pawing at the girl while she was searching for something to alleviate Lady Gyokuyou’s fatigue. Luomen inspects the drawers and queries about a specific herb, then asks for permission to look for the cat. One of the eunuchs locates cat Maomao, lazing in the grass near a hollow tree, and as Jinshi remarks that she appears intoxicated, Luomen explains that the herb he’d brought along has such an effect on cats. He also finds a hidden cache of this same herb in the nearby hollow tree.

Maomao Knew Luomen Would Understand Her Clues, Even If No One Else Did

Unearthing The Message Maomao Left Behind Isn’t Easy

Tucked amidst the berries on a tree, I find a crumpled note Maomao had carelessly left behind. As Luomen carefully unfolds it, Jinshi notices it’s empty of any written words. The idea that such an empty page could reveal anything is baffling to me, but Luomen suspects it might be a secret message hidden in its folds. Without knowing his reasoning, there’s a brief pause where I realize that Maomao has mastered the art of keeping her ideas under wraps until she has solid evidence, a skill she’s honed from her father. Indeed, she is his protégé, and it’s through him that she’s developed the ability to perceive connections that most people would never grasp.

Reflecting back at the doctor’s office, I light a candle and hover the paper slightly above the flickering flame. The warmth brings my hidden messages written in alcohol to life. This method of covert communication was one I savored as a child, penning secret notes. As Gaoshun ponders the cat’s strange location, I rationalize that perhaps Maomao intended it as a clue for him, even though Jinshi points out the slim chances of him finding it. It speaks volumes about the depth of Maomao’s trust in her father and his understanding of their bond, that he was able to decipher the trail she left and uncover the message she had hidden just for them.

Initially, the symbol at the start of the document represents a shrine, leading them to investigate nearby where they found the cat for such a location. The second symbol is hastily written and less discernible. To decipher its meaning, they journey towards the Jade Pavilion in hopes that one of the other attendants may provide an explanation. Upon closer inspection, Seki-u recognizes that this symbol bears a resemblance to one of the servant girls often seen with Maomao and her companion Xioalan.

In a different context, Jinshi isn’t acquainted with the name Shisuei, but there was another servant in the back palace whose name shares a character: Suirei. As events unfold, he orders eunuchs to search for a girl called Shisui, yet his expression hints at something significant. It seems as though he might be aware that she may not be found because she might not truly exist.

Maomao Quickly Learns That Shisui Isn’t Who She Thought

Shisui’s Connection to Suirei Stuns Even Maomao

As the scenery transitions to a fleet sailing over the dark waters, Maomao contemplatively rests next to Shisui below deck, while Suirei keeps watch. Pondering their destination, Shisui drifts off to sleep beside Maomao. However, it’s not until they travel by land the following day that things begin to clarify for Maomao. Accompanied by guards, she spots a snake slithering through the grass. This sight prompts Maomao to observe Shisui’s reaction, as he navigates between the snake and a startled Suirei.

Maomao catches a snake and tosses it onto Suirei’s path, causing her to scream in terror and have a panic attack. Shisui rushes over to console her. As Maomao assesses the situation, she recognizes that this person had been lurking unnoticed all along. If not for the encounter with the kitten near the hidden entrance on that day, Maomao might never have noticed her presence. Since then, it seems like she’s been creeping closer to keep tabs on Maomao.

However, it leaves Maomao puzzled as to why she was removed from the inner palace. Could it be related to Lakan? Perhaps they are contemplating using her as a negotiating tool? If so, things might not end well. Suirei swiftly breaks Maomao’s restraints and leads her on a journey, not stopping until they reach a resort town nestled around a hot spring. As they navigate the bustling streets, Maomao spots a foreigner with a headdress reminiscent of those who visited the palace in pursuit of the moon fairy tale legend.

In the bustle, Maomao gets tangled up with a young lad, who initially chides her, but pauses as Shisui steps in, acknowledging they both were preoccupied. Overwhelmed by emotion, Kyuo-u forgets his anger upon seeing his siblings back, and enthusiastically shares news about the upcoming festival. Though it’s not unusual for younger kids to call older ones ‘sister’ or ‘brother’, Kyuo-u strongly resembles Shisui, hinting that they could be siblings. This might indicate that Shisui is more significant than even Maomao imagines.

As I trailed behind, the wind led me into a conversation with his maid regarding the festival preparations. Meanwhile, Maomao discreetly observed the special guards accompanying the emissary. Suirei, noticing this, inquired if I was curious about the emissary’s presence. Intrigued, I asked how she knew about him, to which she replied with a knowing smile, “Well, when I rose from the dead, there was quite a bit of work to be done. And let me tell you, even the dead don’t get a break.

Towards the end of the episode, Gaoshun enters Jinshi’s office, bearing a report. A shrine was discovered near where the cat was found, but what’s even more startling is that one of the newly appointed eunuchs vanished on the same day as Maomao. To complicate matters further, there’s no palace record of a servant named Shisui. As this information settles in, Jinshi gasps, struck by the revelation that they might have an intruder within their ranks. However, before he can ponder on it, one of the eunuchs rushes into the room, breathless. It turns out Consort Gyokuyou is in labor, so finding out what happened to Maomao will have to be delayed.

2025-05-02 22:25

Shocking Secrets Unveiled: Maomao’s Connection to the Palace Conspiracy!