This is the recap of the anime series Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: The Apothecary Diaries Episode 1!
Maomao resides in the red light district and receives a task from her father to deliver medicine to Verdigris House. He cautions her about the increasing risk of kidnappings. Maomao agrees and heads to Verdigris House.
Upon arrival, the brothel's Madam attends to customers, oblivious to Pairin, one of the Three Princesses. Maomao enters the medicine room at Verdigris House, examines her left-arm wound, and is scolded by Pairin. She explains the wounds are from her regular drug experiments. While conversing, the Madam enters, warning Maomao about avoiding explosive experiments, or she'll be forced into courtesanship. Maomao hastily assures the Madam that the medicines are left and exits before two more women enter, thinking they heard her.
En route to the herb plot, Maomao curses the Madam for her persistent attempts to turn her into a courtesan. After a stop at the herb plot, she falls prey to human traffickers. As the kidnappers reach the Imperial Palace, Maomao laments her father's concern for her well-being. As winter arrives, Lady Lihua gives birth to the Prince with the assistance of the Rear Palace Physician. Meanwhile, Lady Gyokuyou joyfully receives news of the safe birth while cradling her own daughter, Princess Lingli.
Three months later, Maomao frets about her father and reflects on her past life as a regular apothecary. She ponders the similarity between the Rear Palace and brothels, both serving as gardens of beautiful women meant for bearing the Emperor's children. The Rear Palace, housing two thousand concubines and servants, along with a thousand eunuchs, excludes men except for the Emperor, his kin, and the eunuchs who have lost their "manhood." Unlike high, mid, and low-ranking concubines, expendable serving girls like Maomao face the constant risk of losing their lives.
While working, Xiaolan rushes in to inquire about the tag's content. Maomao reads it and provides the location. She notes that most servants are illiterate, taught only the bare essentials of etiquette. Although knowing literacy could bring higher earnings, Maomao fears her kidnappers would take the raise. While it's possible for servants to become low-ranking concubines, Maomao believes she lacks the necessary looks. Instead, she opts to lay low, avoiding trouble during her two-year term, and laments her inability to enjoy a drink.
While engaged in laundry duties, Xiaolan unenthusiastically shares news with Maomao about a striking eunuch creating a buzz in the central area of the Rear Palace. Xiaolan expresses her desire to see the handsome eunuch and asks if Maomao shares the interest. Jinshi, Gaoshun, and the physician pay a visit to Lady Lihua, who, along with her three-month-old son, is unwell. Unfortunately, the physician is unable to diagnose their condition, frustrating Lady Lihua.
Leaving the Crystal Pavilion, Jinshi and Gaoshun encounter Hongniang, who guides them to the Jade Pavilion, where the six-month-old Princess Lingli is also ailing. However, the physician is occupied with the Prince and cannot attend to the Princess.
During mealtime, servants express concern over the sick Prince and Princess. In the conversation, Xiaolan suddenly suggests a curse is at play, confusing Maomao. Xiaolan elaborates on the rumor circulating: all three previous heirs to the Emperor succumbed to sudden illness. Maomao is surprised by this revelation, while Xiaolan anticipates a similar fate for the current heirs. Maomao inquires about the well-being of the heirs, and Xiaolan confirms the physician's visits to Lady Gyokuyou and Lady Lihua.
They discuss the Emperor's potential choice for Empress, considering Lady Lihua, who recently gave birth to a son, and Lady Gyokuyou, favored by the Emperor. The power struggle between the two may be connected to the "curse" affecting Lihua's son. Xiaolan speculates that Lady Lihua may be worse off, given the frequent visits from the physician. Learning that Lady Lihua and the Prince are both suffering from headaches, stomachaches, and nausea, Xiaolan insists it's a curse, but Maomao dismisses it as absurd. Meanwhile, a weakened Lady Lihua frets over her son's health.
Contemplating the symptoms of headache, stomachache, and nausea, Maomao considers poisoning but dismisses it since even the Princess is affected. Deliberate poisoning usually involves concerns about the crown imperial heir, making the situation peculiar. Unable to draw a conclusion, she decides to investigate by visiting the area where high-ranking concubines reside.
While there, Maomao witnesses an argument between Lady Lihua and Lady Gyokuyou near the Crystal Pavilion. Lady Lihua accuses Lady Gyokuyou of cursing her son due to the birth of Lady Gyokuyou's daughter. Lady Gyokuyou denies the accusation, pointing out that Lady Lihua's daughter, Princess Lingli, is also sick. She clarifies that she sought the physician for her daughter, further complicating the situation. The flustered physician annoys Maomao, who discerns the true cause of the illness and wonders if the physician is aware. Maomao, convinced it's not a curse, seeks a discreet way to inform the concubines about the situation, searching for writing material.
As she leaves, Jinshi, informed of the commotion and accompanied by Gaoshun to resolve the situation, overhears Maomao's muttering. He becomes surprised but dismisses it as a misinterpretation. While strolling around the Crystal Pavilion, Shin spots a flower on a windowsill with a piece of cloth tied to it. Dismissing it, she casually discards the flower. Less than a month later, the Prince passes away, leaving Lady Lihua grief-stricken. Maomao receives the news with sorrow, feeling regret for her inability to save the Prince's life.
Meanwhile, Jinshi and Gaoshun visit the Jade Pavilion. Lady Gyokuyou shows Jinshi a piece of cloth tied to a Rhododendron flower, received on the day of her argument with Lady Lihua. The message warns about poisonous white face powder and its potential harm to the baby. Lady Gyokuyou acknowledges the sin of ignorance, and they ponder the sender's identity. Since the palace physician never identified the source of the affliction, it couldn't have been him. Lady Gyokuyou seeks Jinshi's assistance in locating the messenger. Jinshi recalls overhearing a female servant muttering on the day of the argument and asks Lady Gyokuyou for permission to borrow the cloth.
Later, Maomao learns from Xiaolan that the Emperor frequently visits Lady Gyokuyou, showing love for the surviving Princess. However, there's no news about Lady Lihua. Maomao is summoned to report to the Matron of the Serving Women and finds herself grouped with other servants, feeling uneasy. As they enter the room, Gaoshun notices Maomao's repaired skirt. Jinshi arrives, and while the serving girls are captivated by his looks, Maomao mistakes him for an arrogant woman. Jinshi introduces himself as the Manager of the Rear Palace, and as he writes on paper, Maomao reflects on the wastefulness of such a handsome man becoming a sterile eunuch.
Jinshi reveals the message, "You with the freckles, stay here," to the gathered serving girls. After dismissing them, he instructs Maomao to remain. Confused, she wonders how she got caught for sending the earlier warning.
Soon, it dawns on her that it was a trap. Most serving girls being illiterate, she was the only one who could read the message, unwittingly exposing herself as its author. Attempting to escape, Maomao is apprehended by Jinshi, who directs her to follow him. On the way, Jinshi mentions her background record, claiming she's labeled as illiterate. Maomao feigns innocence, attributing it to a mistake due to her low birth. Determined not to confess, she resolves to play ignorant until the end, frustrated by Jinshi's discovery of the message despite her efforts to keep it secret. She quickly labels Jinshi as untrustworthy and questions why he's targeting her instead of doing something else.
Upon arriving at the Jade Pavilion, Hongniang welcomes them. Anxious about potential punishment, Maomao hopes to make it out alive. In Lady Gyokuyou's room, she sees a healthy and happy Princess Lingli, bringing relief. Lady Gyokuyou expresses gratitude for saving her daughter's life, making Maomao flustered, claiming she isn't deserving of such kindness. Fearing involvement, Maomao pretends ignorance, confusing Lady Gyokuyou. Jinshi intervenes, mentioning that Maomao provided him with the message. Despite her attempts to feign ignorance, Jinshi points out the specific cloth used, issued only to serving girls handling laundry like her, and asks about her torn skirt. Unable to escape, Maomao finally gives up.
When Jinshi inquires about the reason behind Maomao's written message, she reveals that she deduced the cause of the illnesses that day: makeup powder. Maomao recounts her experience in a brothel where courtesans, using similar high-end powder, fell victim to poisoning, sacrificing their lives for beauty. Before serving in the Rear Palace, she operated as an apothecary, well-versed in poisons. When questioned about the powder by Jinshi, Lady Gyokuyou mentions that the baby's nurse used the face powder, praising its whitening effect. The nurse had fallen ill suddenly, and Lady Gyokuyou granted her leave with proper compensation.
Expressing regret, Lady Gyokuyou acknowledges the sin of ignorance, lamenting her oversight in monitoring what went into her daughter's mouth. Jinshi, too, regrets not knowing earlier, realizing the information could have saved many lives, including the Prince's. Lady Gyokuyou reveals that, upon seeing the message, she attempted to inform Lady Lihua. However, due to a previous incident, Lady Lihua distrusted her and ignored the warnings.
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: The Apothecary Diaries Episode 1 ends on a high note as Maomao asks how she can assist them. Lady Gyokuyou happily suggests Maomao become her new lady-in-waiting. With her plans of maintaining a low profile shattered, Maomao leaves the Jade Pavilion in hysterics. On her way back, Xiaolan greets her and inquires about what happened.
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