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Random thoughts after rewatching The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 4

This note includes a spoiler.

I rewatched Apothecary Diaries season 1 episode 4 twice. 8/10. This story was about curing Lady Lihua.

The Emperor asked Maomao to cure Lady Lihua, and he said she was a famous apothecary. But until episode 3, Maomao mostly communicated with only a few people: Lady Gyokuyou, Jinshi, Gaoshun, and the quack doctor. So, he had likely heard about Maomao from both Gyokuyou and Jinshi? That means Jinshi was definitely close to him. When Maomao talked to the Emperor, she was trying not to look at him. When she tested food for poison, she always looked down, or looked to the side instead of looking straight ahead, and she even closed her eyes. So, it's obvious that, culturally, most people weren't allowed to look at the Emperor's face directly.

When I first watched this episode, I thought Lady Lihua's ladies-in-waiting were so ignorant and kept using the poisonous powder on Lihua. It was obvious that they didn't believe that the powder was poisonous and kept using it even though it was illegal. When Jinshi talked about the number of Gyokuyou's ladies-in-waiting and said they were wise, it meant that those in the Crystal Pavilion weren't wise. Apparently, that was true. They didn't treat Maomao well either, even though she had come to the Pavilion on the Emperor's orders. So, they were naturally closed off to outsiders and arrogant.

In this episode, Jinshi helped Maomao in two ways instead of doing nothing. First, he helped Maomao get closer to Lihua. Second, he arranged a steam bath. So even though he said Maomao completed the Emperor's mission on her own, that wasn't quite true. And I found it a little strange that he thought so.

Maomao also took care of Lady Lihua for a few months, and she did many things by herself. She proved again that she was talented and a hard worker.

Scores

  • Score: 8/10
  • Maomao: 9/10
    • Got seriously angry at someone who was doing something wrong
    • Persistent in getting to Lihua, and also took care of Lihua for a few months while doing many jobs by herself
    • Moved other people the way she wanted
  • Jinshi: 7/10
    • Helped Maomao from behind the scenes, or helped a little, when she had trouble
  • Gyokuyou: N/A
  • Lihua: 7/10
    • The voice acting for a sick person was good
  • Emperor: N/A
  • Gaoshun: N/A
  • Ladies-in-waiting of Gyokuyou: N/A
  • Ladies-in-waiting of Lihua
    • ???: 3/10
      • Got the powder illegally and stored it. As Maomao said, she always thought she was right
      • Learned from her mistake. I want to see who she becomes