Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: The Apothecary Diaries Episode 3 - Anime Recap

The recap of the anime series Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: The Apothecary Diaries Episode 3 begins where the Episode 2 has ended. Recently, rumors have circulated about a ghost dressed in white wandering atop the castle wall, known as the white specter. Yinghua informs Maomao about it during their daily rounds. After completing her tasks, Maomao takes a detour to the infirmary for some herbs. The Quack Doctor, pleased with Maomao's herb-making skills, greets her with a smile and even offers rice crackers during her visits, though they have been replaced by moon cakes as Jinshi appears in the infirmary.

Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: The Apothecary Diaries Episode 3 Recap

After sending the Quack Doctor away, Jinshi discusses the case of the white specter with Maomao, focusing on sleepwalking. Although Maomao finds it interesting, she acknowledges her inability to address it as it's a mental, not physical, illness, and she's an herbalist, not a psychiatrist. Despite her refusal, Jinshi persists and, in an attempt to be rid of him, Maomao reluctantly agrees to investigate the white specter.

That night, she stays up late, meeting Gaoshun. Upon reaching the rumored location, instead of a ghost, they discover a beautiful Lunar Lotus. Atop the castle wall dances a consort dressed in white, radiating beauty under the half moon, rivaling High Consort Gyokuyou and Lihua. When Maomao mentions Lunar Lotus, Gaoshun reveals that the consort is Lady Fuyou, set to be bestowed upon an honorary military officer in the upcoming month.

The following morning, Maomao consulted the Quack Doctor regarding Lady Fuyou. The Doctor shared that Lady Fuyou was a princess from a vassal state of Rii, brought to the inner palace to be the Emperor's consort.

However, on the night of her arrival, she had an unfortunate fall during a dance in front of the Emperor, leading to a loss of his favor. Since then, she secluded herself in her quarters, and the Emperor had not visited her. Learning of her upcoming bestowal to a military official, Lady Fuyou began wandering the night like a specter. Interestingly, the officer turned out to be her childhood friend.

Armed with this information, Maomao reported her findings to Jinshi. She reiterated that, unlike physical ailments, sleepwalking is a mental condition beyond her ability to cure. Her role is limited to providing herbs to calm the mind. Maomao then recounted a similar case she witnessed in Roukushokan.

She shared a story about a harlot who started sleepwalking upon discovering she was to be sold to a much older man. The sleepwalking ceased when the arrangement was canceled. Lady Gyokuyou commented that the sleepwalking likely stemmed from the harlot's reluctance to be sold to the elderly man, a sentiment with which Maomao agreed.

After conveying the information to Jinshi and Lady Gyokuyou, Maomao excused herself and returned to her duties. It wasn't until a month later, when Lady Fuyou was finally bestowed, that Lady Gyokuyou once again asked Maomao for her thoughts on the situation.

Maomao humbly shared another story, this time about a different harlot from Roukushokan. Similar to Lady Fuyou, the harlot began sleepwalking when faced with a sale to a man. Although the initial offer was canceled, another man promptly made a successful bid at half the price, and the harlot was sold.

Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: The Apothecary Diaries Recap

In simple terms, it was a deception. The man who made the initial offer was a friend of the second man, and they collaborated with the harlot to lower the brothel's buying price. Since the second man lacked sufficient funds at the time, he enlisted his friend to make the first offer.

When the harlot feigned sleepwalking, the first offer was canceled, reducing her value. Seizing the opportunity, the second man then made a second offer and purchased her for half the price. Maomao explained this scheme to Lady Gyokuyou, drawing parallels to Lady Fuyou's situation.

Maomao suspects that Lady Fuyou was already in love with her childhood friend but was compelled to become a consort. To avoid the Emperor's advances, she purposefully fell in front of him, losing his favor. She then secluded herself to prevent the Emperor from visiting, preserving her chastity.

When her childhood friend had earned enough merits to claim her, she pretended to sleepwalk, roaming the castle at night. This was not due to an illness but a strategy to reunite with her beloved, who was coming to save her.

As Lady Gyokuyou and Maomao witnessed Lady Fuyou leaving the inner palace in happiness, Lady Gyokuyou asked Maomao if envying Lady Fuyou would make her petty.

Maomao shook her head in response, understanding that despite Lady Gyokuyou being the favored consort, she was not the only one fancied by the Emperor. Furthermore, Lady Gyokuyou's relationship with the Emperor was born out of politics, not love. Any woman in Lady Gyokuyou's position would feel jealous of Lady Fuyou.

The recap of the anime series Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: The Apothecary Diaries Episode 3 concludes on a high note. A princess in distress saved by her knight in shining armor, Lady Fuyou's beauty emanated not just from her appearance but from her love. Maomao pondered that if love could make a woman so beautiful, she wondered what kind of medicine she could create with it should she ever obtain it herself.