The Apothecary Diaries

E1

1. Maomao

22 Oct 2023 · 23m

After being kidnapped and forced to work as a servant in the rear palace, former apothecary Maomao inadvertently draws the attention of the higher ranks when she investigates what's causing the emperor's infant heirs to fall mysteriously ill.

E2

2. Chilly Apothecary

22 Oct 2023 · 23m

Maomao tries to settle into her promotion to lady-in-waiting and food taster, but struggles to fend off both boredom and the overly-familiar Jinshi. That is, until she gets an assignment of her dreams: to concoct an aphrodisiac.

E3

3. The Unsettling Matter of the Spirit

22 Oct 2023 · 23m

Tasked with investigating a ghostly woman dancing nightly on the palace walls, Maomao finds a sleepwalking Concubine Fuyou. But with no medicinal cure for sleepwalking, she's forced to dig deeper to find the real reason behind Fuyou's affliction.

E4

4. The Threat

29 Oct 2023 · 23m

Under direct orders from the emperor himself, Maomao tries to care for an ailing Concubine Lihua, but finds her work impeded by Lihua's own ladies-in-waiting.

E5

5. Covert Operations

5 Nov 2023 · 23m

A eunuch stricken by a curse comes begging for aid. Meanwhile, the rear palace buzzes with excitement as everyone prepares for the upcoming garden party, and Gyokuyou's ladies-in-waiting aren't about to let Maomao get away without dressing her up.

E6

6. The Garden Party

12 Nov 2023 · 23m

Maomao does her best to navigate the complex social situations at the garden party, including meeting the other Upper First rank concubines. But once she settles down to do her work as a food-taster, she discovers a surprise in a bowl of soup.

E7

7. Homecoming

19 Nov 2023 · 23m

Gaoshun goes to Maomao to get her help in resolving the events of the garden party. Later, Xiaolan explains the purpose of the hairpins Maomao was gifted, and Maomao makes a deal with Lihaku in order to finally visit home.

E8

8. Wheat Stalks

26 Nov 2023 · 23m

Maomao's peaceful morning at home is interrupted when she's called in to investigate an apparent double suicide at one of the local brothels.

E9

9. Suicide or Murder?

3 Dec 2023 · 23m

An older acquaintance of Jinshi's dies while drinking at a party. A servant's body turns up in a moat. Both deaths are written off as self-inflicted, but Maomao's keen observations tell her that there's more to both stories.

E10

10. Honey

10 Dec 2023 · 23m

A tea party hosted by Lady Gyokuyou puts the politics of the rear palace at the forefront, and Maomao learns something new about Lady Lishu. His true intentions unclear, Jinshi sends Maomao to work for Lady Ah-Duo.

E11

11. Reducing Two to One

17 Dec 2023 · 23m

Maomao confronts Fengming about the dark secret she's been hiding from her noble Lady Ah-Duo.

E12

12. The Eunuch and the Courtesan

24 Dec 2023 · 23m

Discovering that Maomao's kidnappers were connected to Fengming's family, Jinshi is faced with a choice between keeping Maomao in the rear palace where he can be near her or releasing her from her service.

E13

13. Serving in the Outer Court

7 Jan 2024 · 23m

To Maomao's surprise, Jinshi brings her directly to his house instead of taking her back to the rear palace, and tells her she's to work in the outer court. Not only is there much to learn, it seems there's many eyes on her as the new hire.

E14

14. The New Pure Consort

14 Jan 2024 · 23m

Ah-Duo's replacement has arrived in the rear palace, and Maomao is assigned to give a certain lecture to all four high concubines. Later, Maomao helps Lihaku investigate a warehouse explosion.

E15

15. Raw Fish

21 Jan 2024 · 23m

Gaoshun requests Maomao's help in solving an apparent poisoning case. Meanwhile, Jinshi deals with an unwelcome visitor who's taken to lingering in his office.

E16

16. Lead

28 Jan 2024 · 23m

A shack, a chest of drawers, and a fishbowl are all that a talented metalworker leaves to his three sons upon his death. Maomao is assigned to investigate how these strange inheritances all fit together.

E17

17. A Jaunt Around Town

4 Feb 2024 · 23m

Covering up Jinshi's otherworldly beauty is no easy task, but after Maomao takes the challenge head-on, she's surprised when she's also asked to don the disguise of a noblewoman and escort "Jinka" outside the palace.

E18

18. Lakan

11 Feb 2024 · 23m

Back at home, Maomao visits an annex building at the Verdigris House that hides one of the brothel's secrets. Lakan continues to antagonize Jinshi as his connection to Maomao becomes clear.

E19

19. Chance or Something More

18 Feb 2024 · 23m

A discussion with Lihaku about recent events leads Maomao to realize that the mysteries she's helped to solve are connected. As the final piece of the puzzle falls into place, she rushes to stop impending disaster.

E20

20. Thornapple

25 Feb 2024 · 23m

Maomao was able to stop the assassination attempt, but was heavily injured in the process. However, the injuries aren't enough to stop her curiosity, driving her to confront the culprit behind the incident.

E21

21. How to Buy Out a Contract

3 Mar 2024 · 23m

Back to work at the rear palace, Maomao listens to Guen talk about his family's business. Meanwhile, Lihaku hears a rumor that whips him into action.

E22

22. Blue Roses

10 Mar 2024 · 23m

Lakan challenges Jinshi to produce blue roses to present at the upcoming garden party, forcing Jinshi to turn once again to Maomao for her help.

E23

23. Balsam and Woodsorrel

17 Mar 2024 · 23m

No longer willing to keep running away from Lakan, Maomao decides to face off against him. She challenges him on his own turf, in a chess match.

E24

24. Jinshi and Maomao

24 Mar 2024 · 23m

Lakan must now choose a courtesan to buy out. As a high-ranking military official, he can afford to freely choose, even from one of the Three Princesses. Who will he choose? Who does Maomao really want him to choose?

E25

25. Maomao and Maomao

10 Jan 2025 · 24m

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.

E26

26. Caravan

17 Jan 2025 · 24m

The caravan stirs up excitement in the inner palace. The merchants bring all kinds of goods. However, something gives Maomao a bad feeling.

E27

27. Corpse Fungus

24 Jan 2025 · 24m

A concubine passes away, and a woman goes missing. Jinshi sends Maomao to investigate - not these incidents, but mushrooms growing in the rear palace.

E28

28. Mirror

31 Jan 2025 · 24m

The special envoy from a foreign land gifts mirrors - a rarity in this country - to the high concubines. However, they bring mysteries as well.

E29

29. The Moon Fairy

7 Feb 2025 · 24m

In order to realize the seemingly impossible request from the foreign envoy, Maomao speaks to the “Moon Fairy” herself.

E30

30. The Crystal Pavilion, for the Third Time

14 Feb 2025 · 24m

The woman from the clinic finds out that Maomao knows a thing or two about medicine, and asks for her help.

E31

31. The Shrine of Choosing

21 Feb 2025 · 24m

Maomao directs her curiosity towards an old, oddly-shaped building.

E32

32. The Empress Dowager

28 Feb 2025 · 24m

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.

E33

33. The Late Emperor

7 Mar 2025 · 24m

Maomao's investigation of the "curse" reveals more about the late emperor than anticipated.

E34

34. A Ghost Story

14 Mar 2025 · 24m

Maomao joins some women exchanging scary stories on a hot summer night to provide chills.

E35

35. The Hunt

21 Mar 2025 · 24m

Jinshi goes on a hunting trip, and brings Maomao along. He seems ready to share his secret with her.

E36

36. Ka Zuigetsu

28 Mar 2025 · 24m

Maomao discovers Jinshi's secret. She wants nothing to do with whatever the politics behind it is.

E37

37. The Baths

4 Apr 2025 · 24m

Xiaolan's term of service is almost up, so she must find a new job. Maomao and Shisui decide to help.

E38

38. The Dancing Ghost

11 Apr 2025 · 24m

Concubine Lishu reports sightings of a ghost in the baths in her pavilion. Maomao goes to investigate.

E39

39. Ice

18 Apr 2025 · 24m

Xiaolan accidentally ruins an expensive block of ice. Maomao comes up with a delicious backup plan.

E40

40. Festering Resentment

25 Apr 2025 · 24m

Luomen returns to the rear palace. His observations trigger Maomao's curiosity.

E41

41. The Fox Village

2 May 2025 · 24m

Suirei smuggles Maomao and Shisui out of the rear palace. Jinshi begins to search for Maomao.

E42

42. Lantern Plant

9 May 2025 · 24m

Maomao has been missing for ten days now. Jinshi's investigations lead him to a forgotten graveyard.

E43

43. Festival

23 May 2025 · 24m

The village holds a festival. Maomao attends, and Shisui introduces some of the village's history to her.

E44

44. The Stronghold

30 May 2025 · 24m

Maomao is taken to a mountain stronghold, where many of the secrets of the Shi clan are revealed to her.

E45

45. Taibon

6 Jun 2025 · 24m

Maomao is accused of attempting to escape, and is tossed into an ancient method of torture and execution.

E46

46. Royal Guard

13 Jun 2025 · 24m

The royal guard, led by Jinshi, arrives, sealing the Shi clan's fate. Maomao wants to save her friend, Shisui.

E47

47. The Shi Clan

27 Jun 2025 · 24m

Jinshi and his forces infiltrate the stronghold, cornering the remaining Shi clan members.

E48

48. The Beginning

4 Jul 2025 · 24m

After the war, Jinshi's work piles up and Maomao returns to the pleasure district.

E49

49. Locusts

2 Oct 2026 · 24m

A locust plague is looming, and mysteriously, a book on insects belonging to the Shi clan appears.

E50

50. The Fire-Rat Cloak

9 Oct 2026 · 24m

An interesting cloak points Maomao's imagination towards international politics.

E51

51. Let Them Eat Cake

16 Oct 2026 · 24m

Maomao treats a sick girl, but food poisoning and malnutrition are not the true problems that need solving.

E52 New episode

52. The Last Volume

23 Oct 2026 · 24m

Trying to track down the missing final book, Maomao visits Suirei, who is now living with Ah-Duo.