The Apothecary Diaries (2023)
A young maiden is kidnapped and sold into servitude at the emperor's palace, where she secretly employs her pharmacist skills with the help of the head eunuch to unravel medical mysteries in the inner court.
Cast: Aoi Yuki, Takeo Otsuka, Katsuyuki Konishi
Taibon
Maomao is accused of attempting to escape, and is tossed into an ancient method of torture and execution.
The Stronghold
Maomao is taken to a mountain stronghold, where many of the secrets of the Shi clan are revealed to her.
Festival
The village holds a festival. Maomao attends, and Shisui introduces some of the village's history to her.
Lantern Plant
Maomao has been missing for ten days now. Jinshi's investigations lead him to a forgotten graveyard.
The Fox Village
Suirei smuggles Maomao and Shisui out of the rear palace. Jinshi begins to search for Maomao.
Festering Resentment
Luomen returns to the rear palace. His observations trigger Maomao's curiosity.
Ice
Xiaolan accidentally ruins an expensive block of ice. Maomao comes up with a delicious backup plan.
The Dancing Ghost
Concubine Lishu reports sightings of a ghost in the baths in her pavilion. Maomao goes to investigate.
The Baths
Xiaolan's term of service is almost up, so she must find a new job. Maomao and Shisui decide to help.
Ka Zuigetsu
Maomao discovers Jinshi's secret. She wants nothing to do with whatever the politics behind it is.
The Hunt
Jinshi goes on a hunting trip, and brings Maomao along. He seems ready to share his secret with her.
A Ghost Story
Maomao joins some women exchanging scary stories on a hot summer night to provide chills.
The Late Emperor
Maomao's investigation of the "curse" reveals more about the late emperor than anticipated.
The Empress Dowager
Maomao's reputation for resolving conflicts reaches the empress dowager, who will ask for her help to unravel a mystery that won't leave her mind.
The Shrine of Choosing
Maomao directs her curiosity towards an old, oddly-shaped building.
The Crystal Pavilion, for the Third Time
The woman from the clinic finds out that Maomao knows a thing or two about medicine, and asks for her help.
The Moon Fairy
In order to realize the seemingly impossible request from the foreign envoy, Maomao speaks to the “Moon Fairy” herself.
Mirror
The special envoy from a foreign land gifts mirrors - a rarity in this country - to the high concubines. However, they bring mysteries as well.
Corpse Fungus
A concubine passes away, and a woman goes missing. Jinshi sends Maomao to investigate - not these incidents, but mushrooms growing in the rear palace.
Caravan
The caravan stirs up excitement in the inner palace. The merchants bring all kinds of goods. However, something gives Maomao a bad feeling.
Maomao and Maomao
The spring garden party concludes without incident. Maomao returns to her regular life as Concubine Gyokuyou’s taster. Meanwhile, novels become popular in the rear palace. Maomao wonders how this came to be, as novels were typically considered low-class. But behind the scenes lies Jinshi and his goals as manager of the rear palace.