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Apothecary Diaries 1x13 Reaction Extended (YT link below) (Patreon)

Published:
2025-09-09 01:38:38
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

Content

In Apothecary Diaries 1x13, Serving in the Outer Court, Maomao discovers the dream of becoming a certified lady.

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YouTube Link:

https://youtu.be/piZHpMH9TD0

Comments

sleepy sheepy

I love how immediately upset you were when maomao got bonked on the head - just an immediate frown. I also found myself thinking about your concerns regarding maomao's family back home - and while I think she has very genuine love and appreciation for what her dad and sisters were able to provide her, I think it's true that it wasn't necessarily good for her. She didn't receive much protection or attentiveness from her father (she even got kidnapped) and her chosen sisters and the old madam were only able to encourage her to live life they way they had chosen to (as courtesans). Of course this isn't really the fault of the sisters or father - they all can only provide what is in their capacity and life knowledge. In many ways being back home at this stage highlights how much she's gained in the palace - she has a lot of people paying attention to her and increasingly wanting to protect her/help her, and also people who recognize her talents and what she actually enjoys doing. I think the attempt to elevate her to court lady was an attempt to raise her status so she'd ultimately have more freedom to do as she wishes. Regardless of Jinshi's motives he is encouraging her to solve mysteries, investigate poisons, and make medicines - all things she actually has a calling for. While of course there are new dangers, Maomao's new life consists of things her previous one lacked. She can be pretty closed off to the ways she is enjoying these new things, but it's probably because she's worked so hard to accept her circumstances. I guess another element is that her previous life really informs who she is and how she thinks - she got the opportunity to love working with medicine because her father taught her about it from a young age, and she has an incredible amount of sympathy and understanding for the women of the palace who face somewhat similar challenges to the courtesans (being women only valued insofar as they please men or in the case of the palace one man). All to say that it does certainly resonate in an interesting way - sometimes we love where we came from despite the ways it may have held us back from things we truly wanted or needed.

bl0odm1st

Jinshi kinda gives me Shigure vibes from Fruits Basket

Serralinda

Jinshi put the hair underwear in the serving girls' closets, not the other way around. He did it either as a prank or to freak them out, but either way, they left his service fast. He is fully aware that women will pursue him (some men, too), whether he's a eunuch or not, because he's handsome but also because he's very close to the Emperor. You're kind of harsh toward him - just because he's of noble birth and gorgeous doesn't mean he's had an easy life, especially when you consider how cutthroat and nasty court life can be. He wants something, and he's working hard to make it happen. Jinshi paid off all her debts (and beyond), so technically, she now owes him instead. She has to work that off for him, instead of the old madam. He clearly didn't do this to make her his concubine (or wife), and he is also paying her something, so we can consider this new arrangement more like a contract than anything else. As a court lady in the Outer Court, she would have had a more equal rank/standing with the other women who work there. But she failed, so "servant" it is. Maomao's been raised in a very specific environment, but she found acceptance and caring there, even if it's not overt. Her father (who is very likely not her bio dad) might not be very demonstrative with emotions, but he's affectionate in his own way, and she knows he cares about her. The women in the brothel (and the palace) have their own concerns, lives to lead, and futures to worry about. That they show her any care at all is more than most would expect in such a situation. She is not their responsibility to look after. I don't think it's odd that Maomao is very aware of manners in their society and where she stands in regard to everyone else. She is almost the lowest caste possible - likely the illegitimate daughter of a courtesan, raised on the fringes of the worst part of town by a man who is broke, an outcast from the Rear Palace, and a bit odd. Her father educated her way beyond her station - just knowing how to read and write is amazing - and clearly taught her basic manners and how to speak (which implies that he comes from a higher station than he has now) when dealing with those of higher rank. But she hasn't had much practice, so she tends to speak her mind bluntly most of the time. All the nobles find it refreshing, so she's very lucky they find her amusing, interesting, and honest, rather than offensive.

Oak

BTW, I noticed you had the closed captions on instead of the regular subtitles this episode, so the translation was a little different. It's generally fine, but I'd switch back whenever you are able.

demonic-myst

Is also new book The pace for this show is a book every 11-12 episodes

Gus N

What are these subs a word document?

Ryan

"I got my degree in lady" made me laugh embarrassingly loudly. Basically the same as "beach Ken" from Barbie, but with more book learning.

Ryan
>>186738649

I should say, though, that the real, historical Court Lady exams were no small deal. They tested everything from poetry to what we could now call home economics, history, "medicine" (very broadly conceived because it was more than 1000 years ago), and even mathematics since they were often responsible for bookkeeping and accounting.

Perchiq

Time to relisten to Eden.

Marko

In this ep Maomao fails Hr test