Animation20231 seasonTV-14★ 8.6
Maomao lived a peaceful life with her apothecary father. Until one day, she's sold as a lowly servant to the emperor's palace. But she wasn't meant for a compliant life among royalty. So when imperial heirs fall ill, she decides to step in and find a cure! This catches the eye of Jinshi, a handsome palace official who promotes her. Now, she's making a name for herself solving medical mysteries!
Where to watch
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Episodes
1Maomao
Oct 22, 202323 min
After being kidnapped and forced to work as a servant in the rear palace, former apothecary Maomao inadvertently draws the attention of the higher ranks when she investigates what's causing the emperor's infant heirs to fall mysteriously ill.
2Chilly Apothecary
Oct 22, 202323 min
Maomao tries to settle into her promotion to lady-in-waiting and food taster, but struggles to fend off both boredom and the overly-familiar Jinshi. That is, until she gets an assignment of her dreams: to concoct an aphrodisiac.
3The Unsettling Matter of the Spirit
Oct 22, 202323 min
Tasked with investigating a ghostly woman dancing nightly on the palace walls, Maomao finds a sleepwalking Concubine Fuyou. But with no medicinal cure for sleepwalking, she's forced to dig deeper to find the real reason behind Fuyou's affliction.
4The Threat
Oct 29, 202323 min
Under direct orders from the emperor himself, Maomao tries to care for an ailing Concubine Lihua, but finds her work impeded by Lihua's own ladies-in-waiting.
5Covert Operations
Nov 5, 202323 min
A eunuch stricken by a curse comes begging for aid. Meanwhile, the rear palace buzzes with excitement as everyone prepares for the upcoming garden party, and Gyokuyou's ladies-in-waiting aren't about to let Maomao get away without dressing her up.
6The Garden Party
Nov 12, 202323 min
Maomao does her best to navigate the complex social situations at the garden party, including meeting the other Upper First rank concubines. But once she settles down to do her work as a food-taster, she discovers a surprise in a bowl of soup.
7Homecoming
Nov 19, 202323 min
Gaoshun goes to Maomao to get her help in resolving the events of the garden party. Later, Xiaolan explains the purpose of the hairpins Maomao was gifted, and Maomao makes a deal with Lihaku in order to finally visit home.
8Wheat Stalks
Nov 26, 202323 min
Maomao's peaceful morning at home is interrupted when she's called in to investigate an apparent double suicide at one of the local brothels.
9Suicide or Murder?
Dec 3, 202323 min
An older acquaintance of Jinshi's dies while drinking at a party. A servant's body turns up in a moat. Both deaths are written off as self-inflicted, but Maomao's keen observations tell her that there's more to both stories.
10Honey
Dec 10, 202323 min
A tea party hosted by Lady Gyokuyou puts the politics of the rear palace at the forefront, and Maomao learns something new about Lady Lishu. His true intentions unclear, Jinshi sends Maomao to work for Lady Ah-Duo.
11Reducing Two to One
Dec 17, 202323 min
Maomao confronts Fengming about the dark secret she's been hiding from her noble Lady Ah-Duo.
12The Eunuch and the Courtesan
Dec 24, 202323 min
Discovering that Maomao's kidnappers were connected to Fengming's family, Jinshi is faced with a choice between keeping Maomao in the rear palace where he can be near her or releasing her from her service.
13Serving in the Outer Court
Jan 7, 202423 min
To Maomao's surprise, Jinshi brings her directly to his house instead of taking her back to the rear palace, and tells her she's to work in the outer court. Not only is there much to learn, it seems there's many eyes on her as the new hire.
14The New Pure Consort
Jan 14, 202423 min
Ah-Duo's replacement has arrived in the rear palace, and Maomao is assigned to give a certain lecture to all four high concubines. Later, Maomao helps Lihaku investigate a warehouse explosion.
15Raw Fish
Jan 21, 202423 min
Gaoshun requests Maomao's help in solving an apparent poisoning case. Meanwhile, Jinshi deals with an unwelcome visitor who's taken to lingering in his office.
16Lead
Jan 28, 202423 min
A shack, a chest of drawers, and a fishbowl are all that a talented metalworker leaves to his three sons upon his death. Maomao is assigned to investigate how these strange inheritances all fit together.
17A Jaunt Around Town
Feb 4, 202423 min
Covering up Jinshi's otherworldly beauty is no easy task, but after Maomao takes the challenge head-on, she's surprised when she's also asked to don the disguise of a noblewoman and escort "Jinka" outside the palace.
18Lakan
Feb 11, 202423 min
Back at home, Maomao visits an annex building at the Verdigris House that hides one of the brothel's secrets. Lakan continues to antagonize Jinshi as his connection to Maomao becomes clear.
19Chance or Something More
Feb 18, 202423 min
A discussion with Lihaku about recent events leads Maomao to realize that the mysteries she's helped to solve are connected. As the final piece of the puzzle falls into place, she rushes to stop impending disaster.
20Thornapple
Feb 25, 202423 min
Maomao was able to stop the assassination attempt, but was heavily injured in the process. However, the injuries aren't enough to stop her curiosity, driving her to confront the culprit behind the incident.
21How to Buy Out a Contract
Mar 3, 202423 min
Back to work at the rear palace, Maomao listens to Guen talk about his family's business. Meanwhile, Lihaku hears a rumor that whips him into action.
22Blue Roses
Mar 10, 202423 min
Lakan challenges Jinshi to produce blue roses to present at the upcoming garden party, forcing Jinshi to turn once again to Maomao for her help.
23Balsam and Woodsorrel
Mar 17, 202423 min
No longer willing to keep running away from Lakan, Maomao decides to face off against him. She challenges him on his own turf, in a chess match.
24Jinshi and Maomao
Mar 24, 202423 min
Lakan must now choose a courtesan to buy out. As a high-ranking military official, he can afford to freely choose, even from one of the Three Princesses. Who will he choose? Who does Maomao really want him to choose?
25Maomao and Maomao
Jan 10, 202524 min
The spring garden party concludes without incident. Maomao returns to her regular life as Concubine Gyokuyou’s taster. Meanwhile, novels become popular in the rear palace. Maomao wonders how this came to be, as novels were typically considered low-class. But behind the scenes lies Jinshi and his goals as manager of the rear palace.
26Caravan
Jan 17, 202524 min
The caravan stirs up excitement in the inner palace. The merchants bring all kinds of goods. However, something gives Maomao a bad feeling.
27Corpse Fungus
Jan 24, 202524 min
A concubine passes away, and a woman goes missing. Jinshi sends Maomao to investigate - not these incidents, but mushrooms growing in the rear palace.
28Mirror
Jan 31, 202524 min
The special envoy from a foreign land gifts mirrors - a rarity in this country - to the high concubines. However, they bring mysteries as well.
29The Moon Fairy
Feb 7, 202524 min
In order to realize the seemingly impossible request from the foreign envoy, Maomao speaks to the “Moon Fairy” herself.
30The Crystal Pavilion, for the Third Time
Feb 14, 202524 min
The woman from the clinic finds out that Maomao knows a thing or two about medicine, and asks for her help.
31The Shrine of Choosing
Feb 21, 202524 min
Maomao directs her curiosity towards an old, oddly-shaped building.
32The Empress Dowager
Feb 28, 202524 min
Maomao's reputation for resolving conflicts reaches the empress dowager, who will ask for her help to unravel a mystery that won't leave her mind.
33The Late Emperor
Mar 7, 202524 min
Maomao's investigation of the "curse" reveals more about the late emperor than anticipated.
34A Ghost Story
Mar 14, 202524 min
Maomao joins some women exchanging scary stories on a hot summer night to provide chills.
35The Hunt
Mar 21, 202524 min
Jinshi goes on a hunting trip, and brings Maomao along. He seems ready to share his secret with her.
36Ka Zuigetsu
Mar 28, 202524 min
Maomao discovers Jinshi's secret. She wants nothing to do with whatever the politics behind it is.
37The Baths
Apr 4, 202524 min
Xiaolan's term of service is almost up, so she must find a new job. Maomao and Shisui decide to help.
38The Dancing Ghost
Apr 11, 202524 min
Concubine Lishu reports sightings of a ghost in the baths in her pavilion. Maomao goes to investigate.
39Ice
Apr 18, 202524 min
Xiaolan accidentally ruins an expensive block of ice. Maomao comes up with a delicious backup plan.
40Festering Resentment
Apr 25, 202524 min
Luomen returns to the rear palace. His observations trigger Maomao's curiosity.
41The Fox Village
May 2, 202524 min
Suirei smuggles Maomao and Shisui out of the rear palace. Jinshi begins to search for Maomao.
42Lantern Plant
May 9, 202524 min
Maomao has been missing for ten days now. Jinshi's investigations lead him to a forgotten graveyard.
43Festival
May 23, 202524 min
The village holds a festival. Maomao attends, and Shisui introduces some of the village's history to her.
44The Stronghold
May 30, 202524 min
Maomao is taken to a mountain stronghold, where many of the secrets of the Shi clan are revealed to her.
45Taibon
Jun 6, 202524 min
Maomao is accused of attempting to escape, and is tossed into an ancient method of torture and execution.
46Royal Guard
Jun 13, 202524 min
The royal guard, led by Jinshi, arrives, sealing the Shi clan's fate. Maomao wants to save her friend, Shisui.
47The Shi Clan
Jun 27, 202524 min
Jinshi and his forces infiltrate the stronghold, cornering the remaining Shi clan members.
48The Beginning
Jul 4, 202524 min
After the war, Jinshi's work piles up and Maomao returns to the pleasure district.
- 49
Episode 49
Cast
Aoi Yuuki
Maomao (voice)
Takeo Otsuka
Jinshi (voice)
Katsuyuki Konishi
Gaoshun (voice)
