The Apothecary Diaries — Season 1
Episodes
E01 Maomao
★ 7.6Oct 22, 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.
E02 Chilly Apothecary
★ 7.1Oct 22, 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.
E03 The Unsettling Matter of the Spirit
★ 6.9Oct 22, 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.
E04 The Threat
★ 7.9Oct 29, 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.
E05 Covert Operations
★ 7.4Nov 5, 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.
E06 The Garden Party
★ 7.9Nov 12, 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.
E07 Homecoming
★ 7.4Nov 19, 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.
E08 Wheat Stalks
★ 7.2Nov 26, 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.
E09 Suicide or Murder?
★ 7.4Dec 3, 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 Honey
★ 8.0Dec 10, 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 Reducing Two to One
★ 7.1Dec 17, 2023 · 23m
Maomao confronts Fengming about the dark secret she's been hiding from her noble Lady Ah-Duo.
E12 The Eunuch and the Courtesan
★ 6.8Dec 24, 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 Serving in the Outer Court
★ 7.5Jan 7, 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 The New Pure Consort
★ 7.5Jan 14, 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 Raw Fish
★ 7.1Jan 21, 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 Lead
★ 7.4Jan 28, 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 A Jaunt Around Town
★ 7.8Feb 4, 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 Lakan
★ 7.8Feb 11, 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 Chance or Something More
★ 8.1Feb 18, 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 Thornapple
★ 7.9Feb 25, 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 How to Buy Out a Contract
★ 7.6Mar 3, 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 Blue Roses
★ 7.7Mar 10, 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 Balsam and Woodsorrel
★ 7.9Mar 17, 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 Jinshi and Maomao
★ 8.1Mar 24, 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 Maomao and Maomao
★ 8.2Jan 10, 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 Caravan
★ 7.9Jan 17, 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 Corpse Fungus
★ 7.6Jan 24, 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 Mirror
★ 7.4Jan 31, 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 The Moon Fairy
★ 8.5Feb 7, 2025 · 24m
In order to realize the seemingly impossible request from the foreign envoy, Maomao speaks to the “Moon Fairy” herself.
E30 The Crystal Pavilion, for the Third Time
★ 8.2Feb 14, 2025 · 24m
The woman from the clinic finds out that Maomao knows a thing or two about medicine, and asks for her help.
E31 The Shrine of Choosing
★ 8.1Feb 21, 2025 · 24m
Maomao directs her curiosity towards an old, oddly-shaped building.
E32 The Empress Dowager
★ 8.1Feb 28, 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 The Late Emperor
★ 8.5Mar 7, 2025 · 24m
Maomao's investigation of the "curse" reveals more about the late emperor than anticipated.
E34 A Ghost Story
★ 6.8Mar 14, 2025 · 24m
Maomao joins some women exchanging scary stories on a hot summer night to provide chills.
E35 The Hunt
★ 8.3Mar 21, 2025 · 24m
Jinshi goes on a hunting trip, and brings Maomao along. He seems ready to share his secret with her.
E36 Ka Zuigetsu
★ 7.9Mar 28, 2025 · 24m
Maomao discovers Jinshi's secret. She wants nothing to do with whatever the politics behind it is.
E37 The Baths
★ 6.9Apr 4, 2025 · 24m
Xiaolan's term of service is almost up, so she must find a new job. Maomao and Shisui decide to help.
E38 The Dancing Ghost
★ 7.6Apr 11, 2025 · 24m
Concubine Lishu reports sightings of a ghost in the baths in her pavilion. Maomao goes to investigate.
E39 Ice
★ 8.1Apr 18, 2025 · 24m
Xiaolan accidentally ruins an expensive block of ice. Maomao comes up with a delicious backup plan.
E40 Festering Resentment
★ 8.2Apr 25, 2025 · 24m
Luomen returns to the rear palace. His observations trigger Maomao's curiosity.
E41 The Fox Village
★ 8.1May 2, 2025 · 24m
Suirei smuggles Maomao and Shisui out of the rear palace. Jinshi begins to search for Maomao.
E42 Lantern Plant
★ 8.5May 9, 2025 · 24m
Maomao has been missing for ten days now. Jinshi's investigations lead him to a forgotten graveyard.
E43 Festival
★ 7.8May 23, 2025 · 24m
The village holds a festival. Maomao attends, and Shisui introduces some of the village's history to her.
E44 The Stronghold
★ 8.2May 30, 2025 · 24m
Maomao is taken to a mountain stronghold, where many of the secrets of the Shi clan are revealed to her.
E45 Taibon
★ 7.1Jun 6, 2025 · 24m
Maomao is accused of attempting to escape, and is tossed into an ancient method of torture and execution.
E46 Royal Guard
★ 8.4Jun 13, 2025 · 24m
The royal guard, led by Jinshi, arrives, sealing the Shi clan's fate. Maomao wants to save her friend, Shisui.
E47 The Shi Clan
★ 8.1Jun 27, 2025 · 24m
Jinshi and his forces infiltrate the stronghold, cornering the remaining Shi clan members.
E48 The Beginning
★ 8.2Jul 4, 2025 · 24m
After the war, Jinshi's work piles up and Maomao returns to the pleasure district.
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E49 Episode 49
Oct 1, 2026