Series
The Apothecary Diaries
AnimationDramaMystery
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!
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Seasons & episodes
1Maomao22 Oct 2023 · 23m · ★ 7.7After 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.
2Chilly Apothecary22 Oct 2023 · 23m · ★ 7.2Maomao 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.
3The Unsettling Matter of the Spirit22 Oct 2023 · 23m · ★ 7.0Tasked 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.
4The Threat29 Oct 2023 · 23m · ★ 8.0Under 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.
5Covert Operations5 Nov 2023 · 23m · ★ 7.5A 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.
6The Garden Party12 Nov 2023 · 23m · ★ 8.0Maomao 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.
7Homecoming19 Nov 2023 · 23m · ★ 7.5Gaoshun 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.
8Wheat Stalks26 Nov 2023 · 23m · ★ 7.3Maomao's peaceful morning at home is interrupted when she's called in to investigate an apparent double suicide at one of the local brothels.
9Suicide or Murder?3 Dec 2023 · 23m · ★ 7.5An 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.
10Honey10 Dec 2023 · 23m · ★ 8.0A 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.
11Reducing Two to One17 Dec 2023 · 23m · ★ 7.1Maomao confronts Fengming about the dark secret she's been hiding from her noble Lady Ah-Duo.
12The Eunuch and the Courtesan24 Dec 2023 · 23m · ★ 6.8Discovering 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.
13Serving in the Outer Court7 Jan 2024 · 23m · ★ 7.5To 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.
14The New Pure Consort14 Jan 2024 · 23m · ★ 7.5Ah-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.
15Raw Fish21 Jan 2024 · 23m · ★ 7.0Gaoshun 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.
16Lead28 Jan 2024 · 23m · ★ 7.3A 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.
17A Jaunt Around Town4 Feb 2024 · 23m · ★ 7.8Covering 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.
18Lakan11 Feb 2024 · 23m · ★ 7.8Back 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.
19Chance or Something More18 Feb 2024 · 23m · ★ 8.2A 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.
20Thornapple25 Feb 2024 · 23m · ★ 7.9Maomao 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.
21How to Buy Out a Contract3 Mar 2024 · 23m · ★ 7.7Back 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.
22Blue Roses10 Mar 2024 · 23m · ★ 7.8Lakan challenges Jinshi to produce blue roses to present at the upcoming garden party, forcing Jinshi to turn once again to Maomao for her help.
23Balsam and Woodsorrel17 Mar 2024 · 23m · ★ 8.0No 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.
24Jinshi and Maomao24 Mar 2024 · 23m · ★ 8.1Lakan 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?
25Maomao and Maomao10 Jan 2025 · 24m · ★ 8.2The 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.
26Caravan17 Jan 2025 · 24m · ★ 7.9The caravan stirs up excitement in the inner palace. The merchants bring all kinds of goods. However, something gives Maomao a bad feeling.
27Corpse Fungus24 Jan 2025 · 24m · ★ 7.6A concubine passes away, and a woman goes missing. Jinshi sends Maomao to investigate - not these incidents, but mushrooms growing in the rear palace.
28Mirror31 Jan 2025 · 24m · ★ 7.3The special envoy from a foreign land gifts mirrors - a rarity in this country - to the high concubines. However, they bring mysteries as well.
29The Moon Fairy7 Feb 2025 · 24m · ★ 8.4In order to realize the seemingly impossible request from the foreign envoy, Maomao speaks to the “Moon Fairy” herself.
30The Crystal Pavilion, for the Third Time14 Feb 2025 · 24m · ★ 8.2The woman from the clinic finds out that Maomao knows a thing or two about medicine, and asks for her help.
31The Shrine of Choosing21 Feb 2025 · 24m · ★ 8.1Maomao directs her curiosity towards an old, oddly-shaped building.
32The Empress Dowager28 Feb 2025 · 24m · ★ 8.1Maomao'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.
33The Late Emperor7 Mar 2025 · 24m · ★ 8.4Maomao's investigation of the "curse" reveals more about the late emperor than anticipated.
34A Ghost Story14 Mar 2025 · 24m · ★ 6.8Maomao joins some women exchanging scary stories on a hot summer night to provide chills.
35The Hunt21 Mar 2025 · 24m · ★ 8.3Jinshi goes on a hunting trip, and brings Maomao along. He seems ready to share his secret with her.
36Ka Zuigetsu28 Mar 2025 · 24m · ★ 7.9Maomao discovers Jinshi's secret. She wants nothing to do with whatever the politics behind it is.
37The Baths4 Apr 2025 · 24m · ★ 6.9Xiaolan's term of service is almost up, so she must find a new job. Maomao and Shisui decide to help.
38The Dancing Ghost11 Apr 2025 · 24m · ★ 7.6Concubine Lishu reports sightings of a ghost in the baths in her pavilion. Maomao goes to investigate.
39Ice18 Apr 2025 · 24m · ★ 8.1Xiaolan accidentally ruins an expensive block of ice. Maomao comes up with a delicious backup plan.
40Festering Resentment25 Apr 2025 · 24m · ★ 8.2Luomen returns to the rear palace. His observations trigger Maomao's curiosity.
41The Fox Village2 May 2025 · 24m · ★ 8.1Suirei smuggles Maomao and Shisui out of the rear palace. Jinshi begins to search for Maomao.
42Lantern Plant9 May 2025 · 24m · ★ 8.5Maomao has been missing for ten days now. Jinshi's investigations lead him to a forgotten graveyard.
43Festival23 May 2025 · 24m · ★ 7.8The village holds a festival. Maomao attends, and Shisui introduces some of the village's history to her.
44The Stronghold30 May 2025 · 24m · ★ 8.2Maomao is taken to a mountain stronghold, where many of the secrets of the Shi clan are revealed to her.
45Taibon6 Jun 2025 · 24m · ★ 7.1Maomao is accused of attempting to escape, and is tossed into an ancient method of torture and execution.
46Royal Guard13 Jun 2025 · 24m · ★ 8.4The royal guard, led by Jinshi, arrives, sealing the Shi clan's fate. Maomao wants to save her friend, Shisui.
47The Shi Clan27 Jun 2025 · 24m · ★ 8.1Jinshi and his forces infiltrate the stronghold, cornering the remaining Shi clan members.
48The Beginning4 Jul 2025 · 24m · ★ 8.3After the war, Jinshi's work piles up and Maomao returns to the pleasure district.
49Locusts2 Oct 2026 · 24m · ★ 7.5A locust plague is looming, and mysteriously, a book on insects belonging to the Shi clan appears.
50The Fire-Rat Cloak9 Oct 2026 · 24m · ★ 7.5An interesting cloak points Maomao's imagination towards international politics.- 51Let Them Eat Cake16 Oct 2026
- 52Episode 5223 Oct 2026
- 53Episode 5330 Oct 2026
- 54Episode 546 Nov 2026
- 55Episode 5513 Nov 2026
- 56Episode 5620 Nov 2026
- 57Episode 5727 Nov 2026
- 58Episode 584 Dec 2026
- 59Episode 5911 Dec 2026
- 60Episode 6018 Dec 2026
Details
- First aired
- 22 Oct 2023
- Last aired
- 9 Oct 2026
- Status
- Returning Series
- Language
- Japanese
- Network
- Nippon TV, RAB
- Episodes
- 60
- Votes
- 668 on TMDB
Where to watch (US)
Netflix
Hulu
Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll Amazon Channel
Netflix Standard with Ads
Cast
Aoi YuukiMaomao (voice)
Takeo OtsukaJinshi (voice)
Katsuyuki KonishiGaoshun (voice)
