Nice frog you have there, Jinshi.
What They Say:
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!
E36 – Ka Zuigetsu
Maomao discovers Jinshi’s secret. She wants nothing to do with whatever the politics behind it is.
E37 – The Baths
Xiaolan’s term of service is almost up, so she must find a new job. Maomao and Shisui decide to help.
The Review
We left Maomao and Jinshi in a precarious position with the two deep in a cave after being shot at. Oh, and they were also on top of each other with Maomao nestled in between Jinshi’s legs with her hand on his junk. PEAK ANIME!
You know, one grope is usually enough to say oops and let go. Maomao is over here practically giving Jinshi a hand job and then wonders why he ends up straddling her to make a point. In some places, this whole interaction would constitute making it to second base. It is delightful watching Maomao, who grew up in a cathouse, fighting with her own disbelief at Jinshi being intact while he squirms. Then he makes her squirm by attempting to tell her that he is ALL MAN BABY.
Then they get rescued by our favorite buff official, Lihaku.
Disappointing, yes. However, I’m more disappointed in not learning more about the identity of the assassins. Jinshi, Maomao, and Lihaku arrange a plot to lure out the culprits by making it look like some bad shit went down, which it did but now everyone knows it. Maomao and Jinshi spend the afternoon being awkward around each other and when the would-be assassins are ID’d and made to disappear they return to their rooms.
Jinshi is still attempting to tell Maomao his real identity and she wants nothing to do with that information. She tells him through a closed door that she doesn’t care about who he really is (or why he still has his junk) he’s just Jinshi to him. Which is exactly what he wants to hear. Pleased, he gives Maomao the thing she has been lusting for. That ox bezoar. We’ve never seen Maomao so ecstatic.
Episode 37 is the start of another half-season so we get a new opening and ending. Which, sadly, aren’t as great visually or musically as the previous two. The new opening features some pretty blatant CG masks and the ending is just alright slice-of-life stuff of Maomao hanging with the girls. The new opening is “Kusuhiki” by Mrs. Green Apple and the new ending is “Hitorigoto” by Omoinotake. Both of the songs are just… fine. The opening is very upbeat considering there was just another attempt at someone’s life.
Episode 37 also shifts gears dramatically as we get a whole episode of Maomao and the girls hanging out in the ladies’ baths. Yes, there is a bit of boob envy, this is still an anime, after all. Apothecary Diaries has never shied away from elements of life that are necessary. In this case, hygiene. We learn that the inner palace has an extensive bathing facility that is used not just by the lower concubines but by the staff as well.
Xiaolan informs Maomao that her contract is up in six months so she’s looking for a new job, post-palace. For a girl of Xiaolan’s class the best route forward is for her to find employment in the household of a noble. To do that she’ll need an in, which Maomao really doesn’t have. Shisui. who continues to be a font of knowledge, does have a lead. She takes the girls off to the bathhouse and once there they volunteer to help out by attending to the lower consorts. SPA DAY!
Maomao’s knowledge of unguents and herbs means she has her own shampoo and her upbringing means she knows how to remove hair with thread. Shisui is a good masseuse and has clearly used the spa time as a way to get the relaxed court ladies to spill all their secrets. Plus, the tips are good.
This freelancing doesn’t go unnoticed, however Gyokuyou knows that this is a great way for her attendant to hear court gossip. The new sisters attending Gyokuyou are suspicious of the trips to the baths but are appeased when the youngest is dragged off with the trio of friends to enjoy the baths as well. Maomao keeps her ears open and learns that the pregnancies of the court do not go unremarked on. Including one rumored third pregnancy that no one can confirm. The one consort not pregnant is the youngest, Lishu. While the high consorts have their own baths, Lishu decides to use the more public one.
The reason? A GHOST HAUNTS HER BATH!
In Summary:
An intimate end of the first cour of the season, and an intimate start of the second. Maomao learns that Jinshi isn’t a eunuch at all, and she doesn’t want to know or acknowledge why. Saved from yet another assassination attempt, Jinshi returns to court with the knowledge that Maomao is keeping quiet and their relationship remains intact. As for Maomao, she gets to spend some time hanging out with friends and helping out with future prospects. I’m starting to wonder exactly what is going on with Shisui… but all in good time.
Episode Grades: B +, B
Streamed by: Crunchyroll
