Storyline

Maomao lived a peaceful life with her apothecary father. Until one day, she's sold as a lowly servant to the emperor's palace. But she wasn't meant for a compliant life among royalty. So when imperial heirs fall ill, she decides to step in and find a cure! This catches the eye of Jinshi, a handsome palace official who promotes her. Now, she's making a name for herself solving medical mysteries!

First Aired

2023-10-22
Last Aired

2025-01-31
Creator
Genre

Animation, Drama, Mystery
Seasons

1
Episodes

48
Status

Returning Series
Language

日本語
Network

Nippon TV, RAB, TVI, JRT, YBC

Keywords:

detective work politics female protagonist maid historical lady in waiting anime medical based on light novel

Stream and watch The Apothecary Diaries

Season 1

1. Maomao

After being kidnapped and forced to work as a servant in the rear palace, former apothecary Maomao ina...More

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.Less

23mins 2023-10-22

2. Chilly Apothecary

Maomao tries to settle into her promotion to lady-in-waiting and food taster, but struggles to fend of...More

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.Less

23mins 2023-10-22

3. The Unsettling Matter of the Spirit

Tasked with investigating a ghostly woman dancing nightly on the palace walls, Maomao finds a sleepwal...More

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.Less

23mins 2023-10-22

4. The Threat

Under direct orders from the emperor himself, Maomao tries to care for an ailing Concubine Lihua, but ...More

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.Less

23mins 2023-10-29

5. Covert Operations

A eunuch stricken by a curse comes begging for aid. Meanwhile, the rear palace buzzes with excitement ...More

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.Less

23mins 2023-11-05

6. The Garden Party

Maomao does her best to navigate the complex social situations at the garden party, including meeting ...More

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.Less

23mins 2023-11-12

7. Homecoming

Gaoshun goes to Maomao to get her help in resolving the events of the garden party. Later, Xiaolan exp...More

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.Less

23mins 2023-11-19

8. Wheat Stalks

Maomao's peaceful morning at home is interrupted when she's called in to investigate an apparent doubl...More

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.Less

23mins 2023-11-26

9. Suicide or Murder?

An older acquaintance of Jinshi's dies while drinking at a party. A servant's body turns up in a moat....More

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.Less

23mins 2023-12-03

10. Honey

A tea party hosted by Lady Gyokuyou puts the politics of the rear palace at the forefront, and Maomao ...More

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.Less

23mins 2023-12-10

11. Reducing Two to One

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

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

23mins 2023-12-17

12. The Eunuch and the Courtesan

Discovering that Maomao's kidnappers were connected to Fengming's family, Jinshi is faced with a choic...More

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.Less

23mins 2023-12-24

13. Serving in the Outer Court

To Maomao's surprise, Jinshi brings her directly to his house instead of taking her back to the rear p...More

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.Less

23mins 2024-01-07

14. The New Pure Consort

Ah-Duo's replacement has arrived in the rear palace, and Maomao is assigned to give a certain lecture ...More

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.Less

23mins 2024-01-14

15. Raw Fish

Gaoshun requests Maomao's help in solving an apparent poisoning case. Meanwhile, Jinshi deals with an ...More

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.Less

23mins 2024-01-21

16. Lead

A shack, a chest of drawers, and a fishbowl are all that a talented metalworker leaves to his three so...More

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.Less

23mins 2024-01-28

17. A Jaunt Around Town

Covering up Jinshi's otherworldly beauty is no easy task, but after Maomao takes the challenge head-on...More

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.Less

23mins 2024-02-04

18. Lakan

Back at home, Maomao visits an annex building at the Verdigris House that hides one of the brothel's s...More

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.Less

23mins 2024-02-11

19. Chance or Something More

A discussion with Lihaku about recent events leads Maomao to realize that the mysteries she's helped t...More

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.Less

23mins 2024-02-18

20. Thornapple

Maomao was able to stop the assassination attempt, but was heavily injured in the process. However, th...More

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.Less

23mins 2024-02-25

21. How to Buy Out a Contract

Back to work at the rear palace, Maomao listens to Guen talk about his family's business. Meanwhile, L...More

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.Less

23mins 2024-03-03

22. Blue Roses

Lakan challenges Jinshi to produce blue roses to present at the upcoming garden party, forcing Jinshi ...More

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.Less

23mins 2024-03-10

23. Balsam and Woodsorrel

No longer willing to keep running away from Lakan, Maomao decides to face off against him. She challen...More

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.Less

23mins 2024-03-17

24. Jinshi and Maomao

Lakan must now choose a courtesan to buy out. As a high-ranking military official, he can afford to fr...More

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?Less

23mins 2024-03-24

25. Maomao and Maomao

The spring garden party concludes without incident. Maomao returns to her regular life as Concubine Gy...More

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.Less

24mins 2025-01-10

26. Caravan

The caravan stirs up excitement in the inner palace. The merchants bring all kinds of goods. However, ...More

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

24mins 2025-01-17

27. Corpse Fungus

A concubine passes away, and a woman goes missing. Jinshi sends Maomao to investigate - not these inci...More

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