A GARDEN, AND A CAGE | The Apothecary Diaries - Ep 12
Added 2025-09-26 22:02:31 +0000 UTCMaomao is let go from the rear palace and has to return home for a time.
Comments
great reaction
Cerulean Spectre
2025-10-01 12:44:27 +0000 UTCPeople forget what the exact rules are regarding which men are allowed in the rear palace. And you might wonder why Jinshi and Gaoshun are at that party. Also, Jinshi buying out Maomao doesn't mean she's the one who gets the money. She will still need money for herself. (But she does get the medicinal ingredients. Who else would want it?) And, why can Jinshi afford to buy her out? All interesting questions.
myst0dreamer
2025-09-28 21:51:34 +0000 UTCIt was an artistic rendition of the magic of the moment.
Edward Lott
2025-09-27 16:18:22 +0000 UTCEver since Jinshi gave that hairpin to Maomao they have had communication troubles, we've been screaming at the screen "Just say what you mean!" now its spiraled out to Maomao getting fired. You sure that's gold dust floating? Considering the three Princesses and all those serving girls I'd say those are pheromones floating, hormones hitting overdrive. Consider that Jinshi bought Maomao's debt from the Granny, so she owes Jinshi now, where does that lead to? Maybe Maomao could fix you up some ointment, while she chides you for getting burned.
Hhound42
2025-09-27 11:52:27 +0000 UTCFor an extra layer of clarification... During this time period, many families couldn't afford to feed and clothe all their children, so they would "sell" them (ie, contract them out for a period of time) to the Palace, where they always need more servants. It was also a sort of charity, in a way. But greedy people would take advantage of this - the kidnappers - by grabbing random teens, creating some false papers to make that teen a part of their family, and then contracting those out as well. The Palace sends a part of their pay to the "family" every month, so not only would a poor family have one less mouth to feed, they'd get a little income as well. This is what happened to Maomao, and some of this was explained back when Gyokuyo's lady-in-waiting, Hongming, broke the vase on purpose. The family has to pay for the vase out of Maomao's earnings rather than getting any profit from her contract. The kidnappers have probably done this with a ton of girls and are making a small income from all of them, which can add up to a lot. Because of Hongming's cleverness, Maomao is being paid separately as a taster, and she gets to keep all of that. As for her debt to Granny at Verdigris House, that's because Maomao actually paid (agreed to pay eventually) for Lihaku's introduction to Pairin (just a meeting with one of the Three Princesses is hella expensive). If she can send other men to the courtesans, she will get a commission toward paying off that debt. Jinshi didn't want to force Maomao to stay in the palace when he knew she'd been sent there against her will, and this was the perfect opportunity to let her go free. When he asked her what she wanted to do, all she said out loud was, "I'll do whatever work you make me do," which doesn't sound all that enthusiastic about staying. So he let her go to be nice to her. She's a dumdum. If she'd been clearer, he would have taken her name off the list instantly. Guys, he brushed his finger against her lips (he did not jam all of them in her mouth, jeeze) and then kissed the lipstick mark - Jinshi is a huge flirt and that was an indirect kiss. You should try it sometime - it's sexy. He likes teasing her to see her horrified reactions, lol, but that one flustered even Maomao. I don't know that Jinshi having berries and twig matters at this point. It's not like a eunuch doesn't have a tongue or fingers to pleasure a woman with... It is an assumption that he is a eunuch because the only intact men allowed into the Rear Palace are the Emperor and close family members of the Emperor.
Serralinda
2025-09-27 01:58:25 +0000 UTCAhhhh, the change of direction, the side step, the plot complication and then full speed ahead into the weirdness. But to be real this episode was made to be an optional end to the series if it didn't take off. But it soooooooooooo did!
Edward Lott
2025-09-27 01:00:14 +0000 UTCSo for sure that definitely clears some things up for us. I was confused when they said her family had dealings with Fengming, but they were referring to the kidnappers. It all makes sense now. Thank you for this. It's easy to miss things sometimes when doing reactions. This really helps with our overall experience, so I really appreciate it.
The Heck Podcast
2025-09-27 00:16:25 +0000 UTCYou're so right about this episode. Loved the music as well! I agree the finger scene might not have been as bad as when I first saw it. He just kinda grazed her lips a bit. Not necessarily a full-on finger to the mouth ha. I guess I was expecting more of a caress on the cheek or something.
The Heck Podcast
2025-09-27 00:09:56 +0000 UTCDamn dude, that's a hell of a burn! Aloe!! Lots of Aloe! Soo... I love this episode! It's beautiful, the music, just love it. I think this was the last episode of cour 1 or something like that. That's why it felt a little rehashy. As for Jinshi, he was introduced in the first episode as the "beautiful new eunuch." Also, I'm pretty sure only eunuchs can be in the rear palace, right? I will say, I think that fingers scene was kinda cute. He certainly doesn't understand boundaries, lol! But, yeah, he's awkward like her, too. The scene with him crouched in the corner with mushrooms on his head cracks me up every time! LOL! Gaoshun is truly the GOAT!
Angela 🌺
2025-09-26 23:35:52 +0000 UTCOkay for clarification on some of you misunderstandings on this episode. 1. Maomao was let go/fired because her “family” aka the kidnappers who sold her to the palace had previously and currently dealings and businesses with the lady Fengming family and therefore making Maomao inderictly tied to her. And if someone found that they would had thought that she was part of something nefarious which is not true in this case. 2. Maomao’s debt/loan to Granny is because when she asked for a favor for that time she convinced Lihaku guard to vouch for her when she wanted to go visit her father and as a reward for him she would get him a meeting with on of the three princess of the brothel which in this case he met Pairin but the thing is even though Maomao paid some money it wasn't enough and the Granny put in in a tab meaning she would had to pay her one way or another. 3. Maomao before being kidnapped to the palace she was already working alongside her father as an apothecary for the brothel and the community in general.
Omar Rodriguez
2025-09-26 23:23:47 +0000 UTC
