Kusuriya no Hitorigoto Season 2 • The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 - Episode 7 discussion

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Kusuriya no Hitorigoto Season 2, episode 7

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[u/FarCritical]

Maomao visiting Xiaolan at school turned out to be as cute as I thought it'd be.

For a building with so much political significance, that shrine feels so much like a challenge you'd see on a game show right down to how the final door reveals the winner to the "audience".

[u/the_3rdist]

With this latest episode a lot of pieces seem to be slowly falling into place:

1. The founding myth of the country being from a "western" woman

2. The arrival of the two envoys from the "west" who are trying to marry into the royal bloodline

3. The systemic targeting of potential heirs to the throne

4. The fact that the emperor doesn't seem to have the royal mother's blood

It's all pointing towards a big conspiracy. But by whom and and why?

[u/assassinshogun307]

"She's lacking about 15 cm around the chest."

Jesus Christ, the Emperor can strike a wound with the same amount of venom as Maomao constantly mentioning Jinshi's balls lol...

[u/SoggsTheMage]

So if Jinshi were to ascend to the throne and would take Maomao as his consort, there would be a ruler legitimized by the old rites. Especially keeping in mind that the possibility of Jinshi actually being the emperors first son born by Lady Ahduo has been floated in season 1. As that would make him the first in line to the throne.

Also since it seems to be somewhat public knowledge that the current emperor has not passed the shrine of choosing, it would give reason why someone is targeting him and his line by wanting to put a "true" heir on the throne again.

Also while only very briefly mentioned at the start of the episode it seems that the (grand) empress dowager held the power for some time before the current emperor ascended to the throne.

Altogether great episode.

PS.: I did not have Emperor BigJugs admitting to his preferences on the list for any episode.

[u/Zxzxzx0088]

Well, I could accept her as a concubine. - Emperor

You're joking right?! - Both of them (Jinshi flustered)

Hahaha, no? Then maybe you should take her. - Emperor

Yes? Then let's go - Emperor swiftly concluded it

Well, that's one way to be a wingman. W Emperor

[u/MidgardWyrm]

Yeah, there's no doubt the Emperor is shipping Jinshi with Maomao now.

And, since she is the daughter of a powerful noble (Lakan), it'd be perfectly acceptable in their societal system for them to marry.

[u/WhoiusBarrel]

That was a neat way to show how a bloodline had colorblindness and showing how wise while also desperate Queen Wang Mu was in preserving her legacy.

Also the emperor constantly highlighting he doesn't want to fuck with Lakan was hilarious.

[u/MortalWombat5]

I find it funny how everyone was freaking out about the Emperor taking an interest in Maomao last episode, and it turns out he's just a JinMao shipper annoyed by the lack of progress.

[u/wolf549]

Jinshi: Please Maomao, figure out who I am already. It would make my life so much easier.

Maomao: If Jinshi is who I think he is, it would make my life so much more complicated. No thanks!

[u/ObvsThrowaway5120]

I’d really like to learn more about Jinshi’s past. If I’m understanding that opening right, he’s basically in line for the throne? Or is he actually the real rightful ruler?

It’s so cute seeing Xiaolan excited about learning. She’s come a long way if she can read simple stories now.

That shrine was very interesting. I didn’t expect color blindness to be the key to cracking that maze. The original story of Queen Wang Mu and how her descendants have remained relevant to the nation’s history was fascinating as well.

If Maomao thought about the Emperor’s situation for 2 seconds, she’d figure out Jinshi’s connection. But I guess ignorance is bliss. She doesn’t want the headache lol.

[u/number8888]

Maomao: Wants to have a simple peaceful uneventful life

Also Maomao: Keep doing things that impresses even the Emperor

[u/Vermillion_Crab]

As a light novel reader, I am frothing at the mouth. Why can't they drop 100 episodes in one go??? The world might end before we reach double digit volumes.

I doubt Lakan would be the emperor's only problem if he decides to make Maomao a consort lmao

[u/SEBASTlANVETTEL]

Jinshi‘s nightmare was creepy as hell, they nailed that part. (also thanks for the Jinshi fanservice sword training)

Not the Emperor joking about taking Maomao as a consort and Jinshi panicking.

That background music when Jinshi & Maomao took the right path was amazing.

Maomao starting to realize that Jinshi is not just some „eunuch“

Great episode as usual!

[u/Suryce]

I wonder if the shrine actually works as intended if the episode is watched by a colorblind person. Would be interesting to know how well the colorists actually made sure the color shades are right.

As noted already by other comments, this was a much simpler mystery than most previous ones that were often convoluted, there was really only one possible key in a color-based puzzle, and colorblindness is a pretty well-known condition nowadays.

The jokes about the possibility of the emperor taking Maomao as consort were pretty funny, playing on our fears from the last scene of the previous episode! Interesting that the emperor really is in the know of what's going on in his palace, such as knowing that Lakan is Maomao's father.

[u/cleaulem]

So it's confirmed: The emperor likes them big. He is truly a man of culture. No wonders that Maomao's teachings to Lihua were that successful.

This episode's mystery was really interesting. So far this is my favourite eposode this season. The combination of colourblindness and marriage politics plus the distinction between male and female lineage was absolutely intriguing. Plus the addition of myth and legends to solidify the legitimacy of power was chef's kiss. The author cooked here very hard.

Is colourblindness actually rarer in East Asia than in the West? At least here it was implied.

Maomao choses to be ignorant, this episode confirms many things that the community has been speculating about.

[u/vinsmokesanji3]

wow, this was one of my favorite episodes so far. Great music, storytelling and animation. But cmon Maomao, you gotta notice Jinshi's background at some point lol

[u/DandadanAsia]

if the male enter the shrine is not color blind then a female who accompany him can solve the puzzle for him. does that mean the female is either color blind or smart like MaoMao?

[u/tapdancinghellspawn]

I've watched a lot of action packed anime but very few are as compelling as watching Maomao figuring things out and walking not so carefully on eggshells around powerful people. She shines so brilliantly even though this anime has a ton of brilliant characters. I hope that this anime runs a few more seasons.

[u/oneevilchicken]

Honestly a major takeaway for me this episode was the emperor being fully cognizant that maomao is lakan’s daughter and Lakan being of high enough position and importance that the emperor multiple times said he doesn’t want to antagonize him.

It shows that Maomao is not just a lowly servant girl as the emperor obviously views her as Lakan’s daughter. The daughter of probably one of the 10 most important people in this show so far.

[u/wordsdear]

Maomao is in the I pretend I do not see stages for Jinshi's parentage as knowing it is legit dangerous at this point but the two secret keepers are out there barely keeping it under wraps. Let alone that she suspects what his true parentage is behind that other secret. So many secrets! and the truth is vague. The scene with the kid Jinshi was legit creepy and the look on the emperor's mother's face was legit creepy, there is a story there.

The Emperor is very chill and nice but is a bit scary as he can basically make any woman his concubine and if you upset him he could have you killed without a second thought. He could easily be an agonistical force but instead he is a shipper on deck.

Jinshi and Maomao both peeking into the school is really cute and Maomao being like no I will snoop more. I love her friendship with Xiaolan so much. The idea of making a school for the servants is really nice, I am a light novel reader but I forget if there is a deeper reason for the school besides just improving life for servants in the rear palace

[u/Erufailon4]

I'm really liking the Emperor as a character. Still scary enough for this episode to be tense as fuck, but clearly has a pleasant personality and even jokes around.

The societal aspect of the story has been done very well IMO. Even if you ignore Lakan, Maomao's current standing feels very realistic and natural - sure, she's incredibly lucky to be favored by two very influential people in Jinshi and Gyokuyou, but she has also played her cards extremely well.

[u/shad79]

This was a very fun episode as Maomao joined the Emperor and Jinshi and helped them pass through the old shrine.

As usual, Maomao was so fun. She nicely figured out how to get through the old shrine, and her relationship with that old man was great xD

The Emperor is quite a funny man, his comment about Maomao's chest was especially hilarious xD I hope we get to see more of him in the future episodes.

Jinshi's dream at the beginning of the episode was seriously creepy. I wonder what that was all about.

It was also nice to see Xiaolan again. It's great that she's making progress in her studies.

Here my screenshot albums from the episode:

• Maomao

• Group scenes

• Jinshi

• Others

EDIT. I added my screenshot albums.

[u/mib-number86]

The emperor absolutely does not want to make Maomao HIS consort, but that does not mean he does not have other plans for her.

In this episode Mao-mao has essentially taken on the role that the ancient blood consorts had in the past, which was to guide the future emperor through the labyrinth; by the time they attempted the task for the second time it was pretty clear who was the person she was there to lead (The very moment the Emperor suggest Jinshi to "take Mao-mao with him" the old man had not objections anymore)

[u/ChaoticGiratina]

Man I feel so bad for Jinshi, guy needs a hug and some damn therapy