The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 12 Review: Jinshi’s Troubles

The 12th episode of The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 or The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 was great as it dived deep into Jinshi’s past. Let us see how this episode turned out.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 11 Recap

This episode opens with Jinshi requesting Maomao’s assistance for a few days. Initially, Gyokuyou is reluctant to let Maomao go and even playfully chides Jinshi for not addressing her by name. However, Jinshi has been invited to a hunting party and wants Maomao by his side for added security during the trip. With that settled, they set off for the event, where unexpected developments unfold.

The host of the hunting party, Shishou, who is also Loulan’s father, has extended an invitation to someone of great significance: the king’s brother or possibly Jinshi himself. Since Maomao remains unaware of Jinshi’s true identity, she finds it puzzling that he is being treated with such high regard. Adding to the mystery, Jinshi takes extreme precautions, avoiding any food or drink offered at the gathering and ensuring his face remains concealed. Given the ongoing threats to his life, he cannot afford to be careless outside the palace.

At first, such meticulous caution might seem excessive, but it soon proves to be a lifesaver. Assassins shoot Jinshi while he converses with Maomao. Thanks to his quick reflexes, Jinshi managed to evade the shot with Maomao in his arms.

This episode also delivers moments that will thrill fans of Jinshi and Maomao’s dynamic. While the two rarely express their emotions openly, the dire circumstances bring them physically closer than ever.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 12 Review

This episode definitely was one of the best of the franchise as we finally see Maomao and Jinshi coming closer than ever before. At the beginning of the episode, they share an intimate embrace where Maomao unknowingly touches Jinshi’s private parts. She becomes shocked to find out that the person whom she thought was a eunuch was not at all that. Jinshi takes this chance to come clean about his position and secret. However, Maomao was not at all interested in that.

According to her, getting too much knowledge about people from higher positions is never a good thing. If she indeed learns the secret of Jinshi then she will have to take it to her grave. She would rather pretend like whatever she touched was just a frog than understand what it actually is. But, Maomao’s disinterest in knowing about him really angers Jinshi, and this again leads to a compromising position between them.

Thankfully, that is when Lihaku comes with his dog to save both Maomao and Jinshi.

Later, the tone shifts from romance to mystery as now both Maomao and Jinshi must catch whoever wanted to assassinate him. They come up with a plan to draw the culprit out without doing anything. The commotion also quickly gets controlled, but the mood between Maomao and Jinshi remains sour.

Verdict

This episode dives very deep into the past of Jinshi, and through Gaoshun, the fact of his being the current Crown Prince becomes sealed. Right now, everyone thinks that the royal brother suffers from burns, and that’s why he covers his face. But the right answer is that Jinshi does not want to become the emperor, and hence, he tries his best to stay anonymous because he enjoys his freedom.

Must Read: The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 11 Review: Closer Than Ever Before