The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 23 Review: Loulan Gets Salvation

The 23rd episode of The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 was definitely the best of this season. Let us see how this episode turned out.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 22 Recap

The episode opens with Loulan revealing the deep-rooted reasons behind her resentment toward her family. She confides in Maomao that her parents treated her merely as a tool, neglecting their responsibilities entirely. During their conversation, Loulan makes it clear that she has no intention of ever returning. Her only reason for involving Maomao was to ensure the children’s safety. Though Maomao typically avoids interfering in others’ affairs, Loulan’s self-sacrificial stance deeply unsettles her.

In an emotional plea, Maomao offers Loulan the hairpin Jinshi once gave her, insisting she must return it one day. She symbolically urged Loulan to come back alive.

Meanwhile, Jinshi, now donned his royal combat gear, sheds his eunuch disguise and embraces his true role as Crown Prince. Together with Lakan, he reviews the strategy for their assault on the Shi clan stronghold.

Elsewhere, the story delves into Shishou’s perspective, revealing the root of the conflict. At the former emperor’s behest, Shishou was forced to marry his illegitimate daughter, and in return, requested his former fiancée be returned to him. Yet his enduring love blinded him from taking responsibility, giving Shenmei unchecked power. Now, her influence is nearly unstoppable.

It isn’t until Loulan confronts him directly, liberating her elder sister in the process, that Shishou comes to terms with his failures, both as a husband and as a father. At the same time, Jinshi prepares for battle, and when he discloses his true identity to his troops.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 23 Review

Maomao has already been saved, and in this episode, we see a very regal side of Jinshi. After confirming that Maomao has been evacuated, he rushes to find the main perpetrators. This is where Shishou enters, that too, with a gun. Here, he shows the new model of gun that can fire without any spark. He goes on a bizarre monologue that even makes Jinshi suspicious that this was all planned by him from the beginning. It is almost as if he wanted to die, and this kind of becomes clear when he indeed takes critical hits while laughing.

After that, Jinshi goes on to search for Shenmei and Loulan. However, he gets cornered by Loulan with a gun, and she tells him to follow her. She takes Jinshi to the room where Shenmei is and discloses the entire mystery behind Suirei’s birth. We get to know how Shishou orchestrated the whole thing just so he could get his hands on Shenmei. This one decision kick-started many of the problems that resulted in the downfall of the Shi clan.

However, when Shenmei understands that she was betrayed by her own daughter, she even points the gun towards Loulan. Things become wildly interesting in this segment of the story, and we realise just how twisted everything has become. Loulan goes through a tremendous sacrifice, but in the end, makes sure that Suirei doesn’t have to face a bad fate later.

Verdict

Till the end, this episode was not only emotional but also powerful. I loved how we got to see the conclusion of the Shi clan arc. The part of Loulan dancing in the snow with blood on her face was also very impactful, as it portrayed her ultimate freedom in the end. The song that was used here was also something really beautiful.

Must Read: The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Review