The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Final Episode Shocks Fans With Heartbreaking Twists

The second season of “The Apothecary Diaries” has been a heart-wrenching journey right from the beginning, with Episode 21, titled “Taibon”, taking the emotional intensity to new heights in the most devastating ways possible. The animated adaptation of Natsu Hyuuga’s light novel and comic book series has breathed life into a captivating narrative, and as Season 2 approaches its last episode, the storyline has become denser than ever.

At the story’s conclusion, Suirei seized Maomao from the palace’s rear quarters. Since then, Maomao has been held captive at a fortress, compelled to concoct an elixir of immortality for the terrifying Lady Shenmei, who is the most formidable character we’ve encountered so far in the series. Although the specifics of her scheme aren’t clear yet, it seems evident that abducting Maomao was intended to provoke the Emperor and the Moon Prince into taking action.

In my observation, as the western province and Maomao’s stronghold seemingly edge closer to conflict, the narrative of ‘The Apothecary Diaries’ appears to be taking a somber, darker turn. For the first time, we, the audience, are granted a more profound insight into certain aspects, and the consequences of these revelations, as shared by Maomao, unfold some of the most emotionally charged and poignant scenes this season has presented so far.

Kyou-u’s Efforts to Rescue Maomao Don’t Go Unpunished

Lady Shenmei Is Not One to Be Trifled With

Introducing Shenmei’s character has been tough to accept due to her impeccable portrayal as the quintessential villain. Over the past few weeks, every time she appears on screen, her character is further developed in a chilling manner. Shenmei is devoid of empathy, ruthless to an extreme degree, and those who incur her wrath are not spared from her cruelty. In this latest episode, we learn why Suirei harbors such fear towards snakes – it’s because she has endured the harsh mistreatment of Shenmei, her wicked stepmother, for most of her life.

In a kind move, Kyou-u leaves a note and a wire under Maomao’s door to signal he’ll divert the guard’s attention, allowing her to make an escape. However, the plan backfires when the guard catches on and both of them are in trouble. To calm things down, Suirei intervenes, but Lady Shenmei becomes agitated by the noise and investigates. When Kyou-u explains their predicament, it only infuriates Shenmei further, prompting her to devise punishment for him. Each time Suirei attempts to reason with Shenmei, she retaliates with a hard fan strike, causing Suirei to bleed from her forehead.

She shifts the responsibility onto Kyou-u, claiming she instructed him to aid her in fleeing. This action spares both him and the guard from repercussions. As Shenmei prepares to confine her within the water chamber, Loulan intervenes, suggesting they utilize the ‘taibon’ instead. Maomao recognizes the term, yet can’t quite recall its meaning. However, as the guard escorts her deeper into the stronghold, into a dungeon room, her recollections resurface. A previous emperor devised this cruel method of punishment and torment, which imprisoned victims in a room filled with venomous snakes and insects.

Maomao Is No Caged Bird, And She’s Proven That At Every Turn

Locking Maomao In the Taibon Was Actually A Stroke of Strategic Genius

Loulan’s proposal to send Maomao into the taibon might appear heartless, but it was in fact a cunning move by Loulan. Once Maomao understands the situation, instead of panicking, she removes one of her hair pins and takes action, neutralizing the dangers beforehand. When the guard revisits to check on her, he’s puzzled by the alluring aroma of roasting meat. Upon opening the door, he encounters Maomao seated on the crate where the snakes and insects were kept, cooking over the taibon’s torch.

I noticed the guard seemed dazed, yet as he regained his composure, he confided in Maomao that the Imperial army was advancing towards the fortress, and he had no intention of staying put. Moved by her kindness following the Kyou-u incident, he arrived to liberate her, but warned her to avoid the staircase on the opposite side of the fortress. He explained that there were men handling gunpowder over there, and it was uncertain what perils might ensue from such a setup.

While Maomao hastens towards the staircase she had been cautioned about, she stealthily enters and observes the men handling gunpowder. Not only are they exposed to the harmful fumes of their labor, but they’re operating close to an open fire. A single spark from even a tiny amount of that gunpowder could set off a blast, yet before she can intervene, an unanticipated figure makes an appearance.

Loulan enters carrying a bag stuffed with silver and commands the workers to flee if they wish to survive. Ignoring the silver, they rush for it, but Loulan throws in a torch which ignites the gunpowder barrels, causing an explosion that destroys everything. Emerging from the smoke-filled wreckage as flames engulf the area, Maomao locates Loulan outside, her head bowed down.

As Loulan nears, the girl gazes up upon hearing Maomao’s voice. Her reaction is heartwarming, as Loulan reaches out to gently touch her friend’s face and inquire about her wellbeing. The girl confesses that she presumed Maomao would be safe in the taibon, which was why she proposed her mother send her there initially. It seems Loulan was attempting to shield her from impending chaos, a move that leaves one wondering what secrets lie beneath Loulan’s facade and where her true allegiance truly lies.

Loulan Was Shisui Long Before She Came To The Rear Palace

Not Even Shenmei Recognized Her Own Daughter When Loulan Dressed As A Servant

Loulan guides Maomao through their shared fortress, their conversation flowing naturally between them. There’s an evident bond and affection between these two young women, though they both try to downplay their similarities. As Loulan shares tales of her mother’s harshness, Maomao starts piecing together the puzzle, realizing Suirei is a relative of the Former Emperor. It’s revealed that Suirei’s grandmother was actually the Former Emperor’s first victim, who gave birth to a daughter in the palace. This girl was ostracized and expelled from the royal household.

In their chat, Loulan goes further into the evolution of her alternate persona, Shisui. She mentions that her mom doesn’t identify her without makeup, which has been beneficial for her acting out roles. As a child, she used to don servant’s clothes and secretly search for her elder sister.

One day, Shenmei grew curious about the delay in preparing her tea. When Loulan attempted to address her, Shenmei lashed out at her. Since they had been applying makeup on her face for such a prolonged period, nobody recognized her when she disguised herself as a servant. This was one of the rare instances that allowed her to elude her mother’s influence and express herself freely.

Is She Shisui or Loulan?

As I stroll along, a profound thought strikes me, particularly with the revelation that Suirei hails from the royal bloodline. Shisui had mentioned earlier that the spirit of her grandmother, Suirei’s great-grandmother, seemed intent on harming her during the ghost story gathering, purely because she was her mother’s child. Loulan then shared an intriguing detail – her father had ancestry from the West, and her mother frequently hinted at the possibility of Loulan becoming the next Mother Royal.

While studying her, Maomao found herself pondering whether she was Shisui or Loulan, but eventually realized that she had always been Shisui. Every time Maomao called her by that name, Shisui would turn and return the same charming, playful smile. Curious, Maomao asked Shisui if the ghost story she told about the insect woman consuming her husband was a tale about herself. Could it be that she had been placed in the palace to bear an heir who would ultimately overthrow and consume the Emperor’s line? Shisui admitted that she had employed methods to terminate any potential pregnancies to prevent this fate from befalling her.

Loulan’s Shocking Act Of Mercy Feels Unforgivable To Maomao

As Devastating As It Is, Loulan’s Heart Really Was In the Right Place

At their intended location, Shisui and Maomao find Kyou-u slumbering on the ground, apparently asleep. As Maomao moves closer to rouse him and tease him about his messy sleeping habits, she notices he isn’t breathing. Moved by compassion, Loulan intentionally administered poison to the children in an effort to shield them from the impending horrors of the approaching Imperial army. After sharing a story and creating a cherished memory, Loulan laid them down for their eternal slumber.

Maomao is deeply saddened, and it’s not hard to see why. It seems like such a tragic waste of life, especially for Kyou-u who, despite being mischievous from the start, had grown dear to Maomao as The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 unfolded. Finding his lifeless body with poison trickling from his mouth is heart-wrenching. As Loulan explains her reasons for this act, Maomao can only stand there, her shock and sorrow evident in her posture. Her last words to Loulan in the episode were,

It crosses my mind frequently as well: Why did they travel so far with Maomao? It seems like an attempt to stir up Jinshi, but in my heart, I wish it’s a chance for her to miraculously revive these apparently lifeless children. Yet, I realize it’s probably just a pipe dream, yet I can’t help holding on to the hope of that resurrection remedy mentioned by Suiren. The sight of those kids was heart-wrenching, and even though I know women and children are often the ones who bear the brunt of war, I can’t help but wish for their miraculous rescue.

As we approach the final three episodes of the season, the tension is mounting as the Imperial army advances towards the fortress. Watching how everything unfolds will be a mix of emotions. War usually concludes, but achieving peace isn’t typically a joyful process. Many lives are often sacrificed during war, and the episode titled “Taibon” in The Apothecary Diaries stands out as one of the most heart-wrenching so far due to the loss of innocent children.

2025-06-06 22:38