“Maomao, a young woman trained in the art of herbal medicine, is forced to work as a lowly servant in the inner palace. Though she yearns for life outside its perfumed halls, she isn't long for a life of drudgery! Using her wits to break a ‘curse’ afflicting the imperial heirs, Maomao attracts the attention of the handsome eunuch Jinshi and is promoted to attendant food taster. But Jinshi has other plans for the erstwhile apothecary, and soon Maomao is back to brewing potions and...solving mysteries!” -Amazon
The Apothecary Diaries 02 by Natsu Hyuuga, Nekokurage, et al.
The Apothecary Diaries volume 2 continues Maomao's journey in the imperial palace, focusing on new mysteries like a warehouse fire, food poisoning, and a craftsman's will, all while she serves Jinshi and navigates court jealousy, revealing deeper connections between cases and her past. -Summary
The Apothecary Diaries 03 by Natsu Hyuuga, Nekokurage, et al.
“After putting on a successful and sensual show of food tasting at the garden banquet, Maomao is the talk of the palace. But she soon discovers that notoriety isn’t the only thing the party has granted her. Her collection of hairpins from the event brings the young herbalist a brief window of freedom beyond the palace walls, as she returns to the pleasure district for the first time in ten months. But while reunions with her father and her friends await, so too does another mystery.” -Amazon
The Apothecary Diaries 04 by Natsu Hyuuga, Nekokurage, et al.
“Though Maomao has left the palace behind and returned to her home in the pleasure district, it seems the Inner Court can't do without her. Jinshi comes to the erstwhile food taster with a request involving the attempted poisoning of the Virtuous Consort during the garden banquet and the identity of the mastermind behind it.”-Amazon
The Apothecary Diaries 05 by Natsu Hyuuga, Nekokurage, et al.
“Forced to leave the Inner Palace, Maomao finds herself in the employ of none other than Jinshi, the seemingly ever-present thorn in her side. Immune to his charms, Maomao sets about learning the ways of life in the Outer Palace, where government officials and military officers go about the daily business of running the country.
Far from being fearful of her new surroundings, however, Maomao has her insatiable curiosity piqued by the soldier-occupied eastern wing, where she's been forbidden to go but where it seems further mysteries await…” -Amazon
