The Apothecary Diaries is an anime series based on a light novel and manga series of the same name by Natsu Hyuga. The historical series, set in a fictionalized Imperial China, follows an apothecary named Maomao. She was raised and educated in the red-light district, and uses her manifold skills to solve mysteries and medically treat the Emperor’s wives in the Inner Palace.
Maomao is certainly a complex character to follow in her own right. She also serves as a conveyance to explore women’s stories across different classes in The Apothecary Diaries. Other side characters, like the main characters’ fathers and father figures, may not appear as often throughout the series, but have surprisingly nuanced personalities, relationships, and story arcs.
Lihua Shows Immense Compassion, Wisdom, & Restraint in a Treacherous World
Table of Contents
- Lihua Shows Immense Compassion, Wisdom, & Restraint in a Treacherous World
- Gaoshun Is a Devoted Husband with a Stoic but Kind Personality
- Xiaolan Is a Vital Source for Maomao as She Solves Medical & Political Mysteries
- Shesui Is at Studious Madservant
- Luomen Teaches Maomao About Science, Deductive Reasoning, & Critical Thinking
- The Three Princesses of Verdigris House Helped Raise Maomao From Infancy
- Fengxian Is a Highly Sympathetic Character With a Complicated Story
- Lakan Has Surprisingly Understandable Motives
- Ah-Duo Had Admirable Dreams & Aspirations
- Gyokuyou Is Perceptive, Kind, & Hilarious
Lihua is the Emperor’s Wise Consort, who resides in the Crystal Pavillion. When she’s first introduced in Season 1, Episode 1, “Maomao,” Maomao witnesses Lihua attacking another consort, Gyokuyou. Though they’re both positioned as each other’s immediate competition for the Emperor’s choice as Empressit’s immediately clear that Lady Lihua is not acting aggressively out of competition or resentment toward Lady Gyokuyou. Instead, she’s driven out of her senses with grief and worry over her mortally ill infant son.
As Maomao painstakingly treats Lady Lihua and brings her back to health, she observes the Wise Consort’s true nature. Lihua is immensely compassionate and forgiving, and it’s easy to see that she is also worth forgiving for striking out at Lady Gyokuyou in such a tragic moment. The sensitive Lihua also seems to perceive that Maomao could use a mothering presence, and though Maomao is a servant, Lihua shows the apothecary her gratitude and her nurturing compassion in subtle, consistent, and heartfelt gestures.
Gaoshun Is a Devoted Husband with a Stoic but Kind Personality
Gaoshun is a court official of the Inner Court, and he attends Lord Jinshi. Gaoshun carries a stern expression to match his no-nonsense attitude. His exasperation and reality checks are a charming counterweight to Jinshi’s silliness. There’s also no mistaking how much Gaoshun cares for Jinshi’s wellbeing.
Gaoshun also tends to be exasperated by Maomao’s antics, especially when she conducts risky scientific experiments and ingests rare, lethal poisons for fun. And though Gaoshun is the definition of stoic, he’s the one who gives Maomao a sweet, affectionate nickname, Xiaomao. Xiaomao is a clever play on Maomao’s name, and it means “little cat.”
Xiaolan Is a Vital Source for Maomao as She Solves Medical & Political Mysteries
The Apothecary Diaries explores the nuances and intersections of class hierarchy. Servants are seen as “common,” which Maomao reminds herself and the viewer often, and that means that the smallest mistake would lead to her losing her livelihood and even her life from members of the upper class. However, characters like Xiaolan show that the servant and working class are the beating heart of society.
Xiaolan is humble, but she’s incredibly clever. Her information about court rumors and daily observances from her work are often instrumental for Maomao as she solves mysteries for Jinshi, the Emperor, and his wives. Xiaolan and Maomao also have a developing sisterly bond, as Xiaolan loves to help Maomao with her work, from medically treating people to cultivating out-of-season roses.
Shesui Is at Studious Madservant
Shisui is a servant of the Imperial Palace who is introduced in Season 2, Episode 1, “Maomao and Maomao.” She is an educated, literate maidservant. She bonds with Maomao, as they both share a studious, intellectually curious nature.
Shisui loves to study the natural world, and she has an expansive knowledge of insects as well as medicine and poisons. It’s Shisui’s pale moths which Maomao and Jinshi use for the Moon Fairy dance. Shisui also has a lovable and quirky tendency to lecture Maomao on whatever subject she’s currently engrossed in, be it crickets, moths, or her sketches of insect anatomy.
Luomen Teaches Maomao About Science, Deductive Reasoning, & Critical Thinking
Maomao identifies Luomen as her father, as he adopted and raised her as his own since she was a tiny child. Maomao’s clever mind was given fertile ground to grow and thrive in the garden of Luomen’s nurturing guidance. He is the person who Maomao clearly respects the most in the world, both for his parenting and his extensive medical expertise.
Luomen’s interactions with Maomao are as sweet as they are humorous. He is a quiet man who never seems to stop raising and teaching his beloved daughter, regardless of her age and accomplishments. He prompts and pokes at Maomao, gently testing her mental blind spots, pushing her to sharpen her wits.
The Three Princesses of Verdigris House Helped Raise Maomao From Infancy
A woman must have more than beauty and opportunity to attain and maintain the position of high-ranking courtesan. She must also be well-spoken, charming, clever, and accomplished with various artistic talents like music playing, dancing, poetry, and more. Not only are the Three Princesses of Verdigris House the incredibly talented engines of a renowned brothel, but they have an immense capacity for sisterhood.
Survival anywhere in the world, including and perhaps especially the red-light district, requires intelligence and emotional resilience. Pairin, Meimei, and Joka were instrumental in restoring Verdigris House’s reputation in the red-light district. As their work and talents support an entire house of staff, they also support each other like true sisters. The Three Princesses also took time from their limited schedule to help Luomen raise the infant Maomao, giving her both love and education from their own training.
Fengxian Is a Highly Sympathetic Character With a Complicated Story
Before the Three Princesses were the stars of Verdigris House, Fengxian was the house’s most talented courtesan. Fengxian’s bewitching, otherworldly beauty and grace were just the most obvious parts of what made her exceptional. In Verdigris House, Fengxian worked by leading with her intellect and proud composure rather than trying to please clients with charm.
The end of Season 1 explores Fengxian’s tragic storyas she falls in love with one of her clients who she hoped would buy her out. The juxtaposition between Fengxian’s composed, intelligent nature and her emotional downfall complicates her character. Her story also illustrates, in a compassionate way, the lack of agency a courtesan is forced to endure, and the precarious safety they can only try to maintain.
Lakan Has Surprisingly Understandable Motives
Lakan seems like a potential villain, at first, but it turns out that he’s merely an eccentric with a sad backstory. He’s first introduced as a high-ranking military tactician from a well-respected family. He’s also a bit of a thorn in Jinshi’s side, and Maomao expresses bitterness toward him.
Many dislike Lakan and find his eccentricities discomfiting. However, the more that’s revealed about Lakan’s backstory and perspective, the more humanized he becomes. His slyness, sharp logic, and odd kind of enthusiasm give him a lot in common with the series’ equally eccentric heroine, despite her impatience and mistrust towards him. And though Lakan has endured hardship and made mistakes despite his best efforts, he has a constant heart. No matter how much time has gone by, he doesn’t give up on trying to right the tragedies of the past.
Ah-Duo Had Admirable Dreams & Aspirations
Lady Ah-Duo inspires great loyalty and influence wherever she goes, sometimes without even trying. She attained a high level of political power and a station as the Emperor’s Pure Consort because of her longstanding friendship with him. The relationship between a consort and her ladies-in-waiting can make or break a consort’s status and well-being, and Ah-Duo earns such admiration from her ladies-in-waiting that they would move worlds for her.
Ah-Duo was the Emperor’s sole consort for many years. Despite having so much power and influence laid at her feet through the Emperor’s love for her, Ah-Duo didn’t aspire to be his bride or his Empress. Ah-Duo had dreams of a future as a court official, which was sadly denied her. Ah-Duo’s disappointments in life don’t stop her from helping other women as much as she can, though.
Gyokuyou Is Perceptive, Kind, & Hilarious
Lady Gyokuyou is the Emperor’s favorite consort, titled the Precious Consort. She’s a devoted mother, and when she gives birth to a daughter, Princess Lingli, she takes great care to raise her well and offer her as many educational opportunities as possible. Though Gyokuyou is sweet, sensitive, and mild-mannered, she isn’t sweet at the expense of being savvy and highly aware of her position in court and its implications.
Gyokuyou doesn’t let the political intricacies, threats, and dangers which her position put her in stop her from extending the hand of friendship to others. Like Lady Lishu, when Maomao helps Lady Gyokuyou, in return, she makes a point to uplift Maomao as much as she can. And though Jinshi likes to think that he’s good at hiding his emotions, he’s never spared from Gyokuyou’s sharp perception. She plainly finds it entertaining to watch the court official squirm as she teases him with her knowledge.
