The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 2 Review: Is Maomao’s Intuition Wrong?

The 2nd episode of The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 was filled with schemes and conspiracies. Let us see how this episode turned out.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 1 Recap

In this episode, she orders a new batch of adult books from the brothel, much to the amusement and curiosity of the court ladies. Since Maomao first introduced these items to the consorts, they’ve quickly become a popular trend. The comedic highlight comes when Jinshi discovers this peculiar habit. Instead of showing disapproval, he meticulously examines the content and artwork of the books.

However, this is no random indulgence. The emperor and Jinshi’s reasoning for allowing such risqué material into the hands of the harem’s refined ladies is revealed to be surprisingly clever. Many women in the palace are illiterate, and the goal is to spark their desire to read. By introducing engaging and unconventional stories, their curiosity is piqued, leading to a natural motivation to learn. This strategy proves effective when Xiaolan expresses a keen interest in learning to read, with Maomao stepping in to guide her.

The episode also introduces a heartwarming change in the palace. Princess Lingli adopts a stray cat, sparking new dynamics among the residents. When Maomao tries to catch the feline, another figure steps in to help, a character who is sure to play a significant role in the future.

The latter half of the episode focuses on the cat, whose connection to both Maomao and Jinshi deepens as events unfold.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 2 Review

The mystery thickens around Maomao and the harem as we see someone planning to harm the concubines. The episode begins with the much-awaited arrival of the caravan that brings foreign merchants and new exotic clothes and goods. As the servants and the concubines rarely leave their side of the palace, this is a great opportunity for them actually to shop and let themselves loose. The concubines also splurge a lot of money on their maidservants and even give them pocket money to spend on their own shopping.

The time is also very good as the season is changing and everyone needs a set of new clothes. There is much buzz about this around Lady Gyokuyou’s palace as well. On top of that, after shopping from the caravan merchants, a different kind of conspiracy comes to light. Lady Gyokuyou’s pregnancy is still a secret, and nobody really knows about it apart from her handmaidens. So how is it possible that the merchants sold her clothes that are exactly optimal for pregnant ladies? Has the information about her pregnancy leaked, or is someone else also pregnant in the palace?

Not only that, but Maomao also found some very suspicious materials that the merchants had brought with them. These, when combined together, can be material in promoting miscarriage. She also found handmaidens from Lady Rifa’s palace wearing fragrances that can be poisonous to pregnant women. This is definitely a scenario that needs special precaution. Thus, Maomao tells all her doubts to Jinshi, who immediately sets up an investigation.

But it was not all about conspiracies, as we see Maomao making friends for the very first time. She becomes very close to Shisui, another maid, along with Xiaolan, whom Maomao considers almost a younger sister.  

Verdict

I again loved this episode as it had all the palace intrigues and details that you would not normally see somewhere else. The mystery part is intriguing, and it will be interesting to see whether Maomao’s intuition is right or not. Sadly, there is not much romance in this episode, and there is very little interaction between Maomao and Jinshi.

Must Read: The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 1 Review: Why People Love Cats?