#I think it fits Maomao | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

idyllcy · 4 months

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a pathological people pleaser

word count: 4.4k

warnings: smut || pt 2 to and i wouldn't marry me either

summary: Jinshi's getting desperate to bed you.

夏

Jinshi contemplates what kind of a ring to get you. He really does. He looks through the designs that had been initially made for your marriage, but he finds inspiration in none of them. You would suit a ring that's crafted with only the finest of materials, not a ring that was just bought from the streets. Though, you had been going out with Maomao more often with some guards to have fun and buy food. At some point, the palace chefs are going to need to learn how to make a roujiamo that tastes like the ones on the street and not the fancy food that you had grown used to having.

He calls Maomao and Gaoshun for help picking a ring, but ultimately neither of them come up with something that would suit you. (He even asks his mother, but she is no help either.)

So, he rots in the confinement of your shared office, head spinning as he sketches more and more ring designs. The one of the current empress is nice, but it is not something of your style. The one that his mother had received was pretty as well, but not something that he desired to put on you. Perhaps a simple jade ring of your size would do better, but it seemed too plain compared to the kind of treatment he was supposed to give you. A simple jade ring would be fitting for him, but not necessarily for you. He would give you gold, but he wasn't quite sure what kind of a ring design would fit you.

He's gonna age from this, he swears.

Yet, he continues sketching at it between his paperwork, frowning at how big of a demand there are for eunuchs. The lower ranking concubines were still desperate, he finds. Perhaps especially with the announcement of his marriage... not announcement. He was married, but with the revealing of his marriage, it seems some concubines are getting desperate for some sexual release. Jinshi... really is no better than they are. He finds that he can't sit still around you these days.

He's... desperate. Yeah. Desperate is the right word.

"Rotting in here again?"

"You know, I'm starting to think you're actually Diu from your actions." Jinshi grumbles from his desk, shoving the paper with the ring designs to the side, catching your eye.

"To be fair, I am him, and he is me." You pick up the paper, tilting your head at the ring designs. "Designing rings for me? How sweet of you. Why not just use one from the treasury?"

"You deserve a new one." He groans. "I wanted to design one for you."

"Why not just gold?" You hum. "And then thread a pearl and jade orb through them."

"A jade ring would be nice." Jinshi hums, staring up at the pin in your hair. "To match your pin."

"Whatever you design." You hum. "I'm sure I will be satisfied."

"It has to be perfect." He mopes. "Or else I will not forgive myself."

"That's rather harsh on yourself." You hum, reaching for his brush as you sketch a design. "I liked the ring presented to the empress."

"The blue gem?"

You tap your chin. "Though, the gold isn't my favorite combination." You finish your sketch, noting down the color scheme, and Jinshi blinks at the choice.

"You just want a plain jade ring?"

"For the wedding ring." You blink. "The westerners are quite intriguing with the tales they tell. The women there boast many rings."

"You went to the west?"

You shrug. "A season is plenty of time to explore."

"She went to a port city." Maomao speaks up from the door. "Gaoshun is asking for the report."

"I sent it to him already?" You raise a brow.

"The one regarding the ceremony in the winter."

"Ah." Jinshi's fingers slide down the stack, pulling out a booklet between all of it. "Here."

Maomao nods, pausing as she catches wind of the ring design. "How about a ring with the royal family's seal?"

"I'm not becoming crown prince." Jinshi grimaces.

"I am sure the emperor would allow it regardless."

"I don't want a ring like that." You pause. "though, it would be quite a statement to wear it on the pinky."

"You want a divorce?!" Jinshi cries, heartbroken as Maomao leaves the room with the report.

"No." You shrug. "I might if you keep putting off the concubines' requests."

Jinshi jumps in his skin as he goes back to the papers, and you glance at the ring you've drawn.

"Carve a jade ring with a phoenix for our wedding ring. I do not desire gold." You hum. "And you are to have a dragon on yours."

Jinshi looks up at you, eyes gentle as he drinks in your figure under the setting sun, summer wind rustling the leaves outside, heat not too much to handle either. There is something delicate and breathless about you to him. You are worth so much, yet he had to spend such little time compared to the age of the universe to prove that you are his only one. Time is suck a fickle thing when it came to the clouds and sky. He supposes that's more a reason to treat you well and make up for time lost.

"Is that all you want?"

"What else would I want?"

"How about a jade pendant?"

"With the royal family's seal carved into it?"

Jinshi laughs. "Why not my last name?"

"Sure, pretty prince."

Jinshi flushes.

秋

You have tea with Ah-Duo a lot during fall. The weather cools bit by bit, and you sit in your yard, peeling the sugarcane as she looks through the files, humming at your writing, each stroke nice and clean. She puts the papers down, a maid rushing over to take them to your study, and she glances at the sickle and cane in your hand. It seems you have found new talents outside of the palace walls. It fills her with a sense of warmth, almost.

"How do you feel about the new eunuchs?" She hums.

"Some of them are rather attractive." You hum, not paying much mind as you cut off a piece for the lady.

"Is that so? Yue would have a heart attack if he heard you say that." She takes the piece, popping it in her mouth as she chews, humming. "It's sweet. I like it."

"That's good." You laugh. "I had the chefs just hand me whichever one." You continue to hack at the crop with the sickle. "Jinshi would be fine."

"I doubt it." She hums, spitting out the dry cane into the bowl prepared beforehand by the maids. "He is rather protective when it comes to things he desires... you included."

"It is only recently that he has become protective over me." You hum, putting a piece into your own mouth as you chew. She was right. It is sweet. "Which is also why he refuses to become the imperial prince."

"You would make a great empress."

"I would." You chuckle. "I have been raise for the role, after all."

"Though, this is better." She smiles. "You are happier like this."

"Oh, well as empress, I suppose I would not do too much. Jinshi, though? That poor man."

"He would have quite the work set out for him." She hums. "Though, you would be there to support him."

"I suppose." You hum. "It would be better had you been ascended to the position of empress."

"What is done is done." She hums. "I find it more amusing that your talk with the emperor of letting me visit worked."

You snort. "I saw the chance and took it. It would be a shame to not host you at least once in a house that is now warm."

"I suppose so." She smiles. "Does it not hurt to cut the sugarcane yourself?"

"It does not." You hum. "My hands are stained with sugar, and I work up a good sweat. I find it fun."

"Fun?"

You snap the plant in half, handing the peeled half to Ah-Duo as you continue with the unpeeled half.

She bites it, humming. "It is good. Is there a reason to cut it? I no longer remember."

"It's so you can get the most of it." You offer her one of the knives on the table. "Be careful not to cut yourself."

"I will." She nods. "Have you learned anything else?"

"A foreigner showed me how to peel a pomegranate." You pause. "Oh, and I have developed a strange talent for peeling oranges. It is incredible how clean it can peel with the right tools."

She nods, popping a piece into her mouth.

"How are the children?" You tilt your head, cutting another piece to put in the central bowl.

"They are faring well." She hums. "They are children, after all."

"I suppose." You mumble. "Jinshi went a little insane on their family."

"Not to mention he had full right, holding the army seal." She chuckles. "I heard from the maids that the imperial court threw a fit upon the realization that you had been holding onto something so precious and had just casually given it to Jinshi in order to save a maid."

"Not just any maid at the time." You snort. "Jinshi's dear maid."

"Of course." She smiles. "Though, he had been in love you. He had simply pushed it down."

"Like father like son, I suppose." You mumble. "Has the emperor visited?"

"Not yet." She pauses. "Is he planning so?"

You turn your head at the sound of footsteps.

"Jinshi." You hum, smiling.

He steps over to press his lips to your forehead, smiling fondly at your juice-stained hands, only freezing when he remembers his mother is with you. "...niang."

Ah-Duo waives her hand. "How cute."

Jinshi flushes, and you chuckle, pinching his cheek.

"You needed something?"

"The emperor is coming for a visit, niang." He pauses. "To our residence. He will be visiting the tearoom."

You raise a brow at Jinshi.

Jinshi shakes his head at you.

"Very well." You grin, shaking Jinshi off of you as you peel the sugarcane with eerie accuracy, cutting the rest into bits for the late consort to enjoy. "You can take the bowl."

"None for me?" Jinshi pouts.

"The emperor matters more in this case." You shrug. "I shall send some maids to accompany you."

"Alone will be fine." Ah-Duo nods. "Thank you."

You smile as she leaves, and Jinshi takes her spot, pouting at the sugarcane she had left behind.

"I want a bite."

You take the plant from him, cutting pieces off for him, watching as he chews, reaching for his throat as he threatens to swallow. This fucking dumbass.

You pry his jaw open, ignoring the fact that your hands probably taste like some sort of sugar, ordering him to spit it out. He listens, dry cane spat into the bowl you've held before his mouth, and his spit slides down with hit, the poor male panting like some bitch in heat. You let go of his mouth, exhaling as you mumble. "Good boy."

The words ring in Jinshi's head and shoot straight to his dick, and he licks your fingers unconsciously, eyes half-lidded as he tastes the sugar on them. Wait.

fuck.

He was NOT supposed to do that.

You freeze as something brushes your knee, and you stare into Jinshi's eyes as he stares back up at you, blinking rapidly, praying you wouldn't point it out. The two of you meet eyes, and you back up, sitting back down as the two of you wait for the other to speak up. Jinshi refuses to speak up.

You break the silence. "I'll wait."

"Thank you." He mumbles, cheeks red in embarrassment as he rushes off to somewhere private.

This is awful.

冬

some days you wonder how long Jinshi went without sexual release.

It's a strange thought, really. So, when you and Jinshi are wedded and you're waiting for him on the wedding night in your shared bed, you don't know what to think. Alright, wedded is the wrong word. The two of you are rewedded, and you are dressed in the robes the late empress had prepared for the two of you to sleep together in. You think it's too little, but apparently it's supposed to rile Jinshi up. Speaking of Jinshi, you wonder how he's dealt with getting boners. He... can't sleep with someone because he's a eunuch, but he can't just leave himself hard forever.

Jinshi stares at you from the door as you're lost in thought.

Skin. You're showing skin. He feels rabid at the sight— as though he were some carnivore in the wild, grew before his eyes. He feels as though he would go feral if he were to get his hands on you, so he stands there, collecting himself. He can't scare you off. He finally has you in his hands again, this time treating you properly, and he can't just scare you off because he's wanted to touch you for ages but couldn't.

"Jinshi?" You tilt your head at him, and he musters up a smile.

"I don't want to scare you." He pauses. "But I fear the maids did a little too good of a job with you."

He offers you a drink, and the two of you down it before you lick your lips to speak up.

"Why? You want to defile me?" You lean forward, almost as if to emphasize your point, and Jinshi flushes red.

"I really wonder how you learned to flirt like that when you were Diu." Jinshi sits next to you, fingers pushing your hair back as he leans in. "This is fine, right?"

"Would be funnier if I were Diu right n-" You're cut off as Jinshi presses his lips to have you shut up. He loves you, but god, were you infuriating sometimes. It was as though the winter and spring without him had changed you into a different person— not that he minded. You're charming no matter how you act or react. Your hair scrunches between his palm and fingers, and you tilt your head to give him better access, passion and longing staining your face as he presses his lips to yours and his fingers bloody with something he's wanted forever. Some sort of twisted passion beats from his chest to yours, a whimper spilling past his lips as you thread your fingers through his hair.

He only pulls away when you soften against him, chest pressed to his as he feels your muscles tensing from the lack of breath.

"You still with me?" He moves his hand out, your hair slipping between his fingers as you hang your head to breathe.

"I sure wish you weren't good at everything you did," You keep your head hung, unraveling his robes with ease, palming his cock through the fabric wrapped around his waist. Jinshi's hips shift slightly for more friction, and your hand presses down on his hipbone, forcing him to still as you pull on the strand to free him, licking your lips at his length. "I don't think you're going to fit, pretty boy."

"We'll make it fit." He hisses out as you let the spit on your tongue roll onto the tip of his cock, smearing the precum with your saliva, your fingers smooth against his length as you spread it. Jinshi whimpers as you do, the ring around your finger cool against his skin, and you lean in to stare up at him through your lashes, biting your bottom lip as your hand speeds up. Jinshi whimpers, hand flying to wrap around your wrist and hold you still, and you tilt your head, yelping as he takes your lips pushing you back into the mattress. You lean into the kiss as he tugs on the bow, string coming out and top falling off with ease as his fingers brush your tits, thumb pressed to your nipple, humming into your mouth at the feeling of it hard. "Let me take care of you tonight." He huffs, pulling from you as he forces your tits up with his hands, pinching your nipple to catch a wince from you.

"Mean." You pout, no real annoyance on your face, and Jinshi busies himself with your chest, lips pressing a kiss to the meat of your chest, biting down— almost as though to mark you as his territory. It irks him some days that the maids still have lingering crushes on you from when you were Diu. So, his bites trail up from your chest to your neck, canines crazing over your pulse point as he bites down, hands sliding down to hold your waist as you crane your neck and whimper. Jinshi leans to force his chest to yours, and your fingers curl uncomfortably next to you as he sucks on your neck, purple blooming across your skin wherever his lips were.

"You're so pretty." Jinshi mumbles, finally pulling his lips off of you with a pop, staring down at you as you're suddenly aware that you are bare. You try to hide yourself but Jinshi makes work of his hands swiftly, holding your wrists together as he rolls his hips against yours experimentally. "I wonder how much of my reading is going to pay off."

"Studying through indecent literature? How sinful of you." You arch your back as he pulls your undergarments off, spreading your legs slightly as he slides his index finger down your slit, taking note of the slick threatening to spill out.

"I'd say this is worse, though." He slides a finger into you with ease, and you whimper as he curls it, nails slightly grazing your walls, making you gasp. "You sound so sinful like this. I sure hope you didn't let any other man see you like this."

"And if I did?"

"Then I'd suppose I'd just have to ruin their life." Jinshi straightens his middle finger as he curls his index out of you, sliding both into you at once. You shift slightly at the stretch. Jinshi curses under his breath at how tight you are. He doesn't want to break you your first night. So, he spreads his fingers in you slightly, thumb on your clit as he tries to loosen you. Instead, you flutter around him, only a light gasp freeing from your lips as he furrows his brows. He spreads his fingers, trying to make space for a third and get a reaction out of you. Instead, you don't react, simply shifting your hips to accommodate the stretch from his fingers.

"Am I bad?" He pouts, thumb finding your clit.

"No." You breathe, squirming from his touch.

"Am I average?"

"Jinshi, I have no idea. This is as much of my first time as it is yours." Your wrists fight against the grip of his hand, and he lets them go, lowering his face to your pussy instead, hooking your knees over his shoulders as he pulls you up. You back arches dramatically as he wraps his arms around your thighs, and Jinshi presses his tongue flat against your cunt, licking up as you jolt. He watches as your pussy flutters around nothing, and he slides his tongue in, moaning into your against as he tastes you. So this is what you taste like— some mixture of sin and lust, nectar that would put even the sweetest of peaches to shame. It would drive Jinshi to madness, he supposes.

Your fingers grasp at the pillow above your head, whimpering with each flex of Jinshi's tongue, and his fingers dig into your thighs, earning a squeal from your lips as you feel something tighten in your stomach. Your eyes widen as your nails dig into the sheets and your back arches impossibly more, tears in the corner of your eyes as Jinshi sucks at your orgasm, ignoring the mess of slick sliding down his chin and splattering onto the sheets. You turn red in embarrassment at the mess, but Jinshi pays it no mind, continuing to lap at your pussy, eyes digging into yours as he puts on a show for you. You look away from his eyes, opting to make a mess on his tongue instead, eyes rolled to the back of your head as a second orgasm crashes upon you. Jinshi drinks it up just as eagerly as the last, eyes half-lidded as

Your legs shake as Jinshi lets you down, fingers wiping the slick from his face as he pumps himself with it, and then sliding his tip beneath the hood of your clit to further coat his dick in your cum. You shift against his cock, grinding lightly into him as he chuckles. "Patience, beloved."

"I'd say you're worse than me." You heave, walls fluttering around Jinshi's length as he slides in. He notices the way your skin lifts with him inside of you, and he presses down on the bulge, blinking slowly. You gasp, stomach flexing out of instinct, pussy clenching around Jinshi with a hiss. Jinshi stays still, thumb brushing your clit to incite a reaction from you, earning him a lewd whimper. The sound shoots straight to his cock, head spinning as he slides his palm up your abdomen to your chest, pinching your nipple as he swallows.

"This is fine, right?"

"Insecure?" You roll your hips in affirmation. "I wouldn't have married you or let you catch me if it wasn't."

"Tease." He grumbles, taking your legs and folding them to your shoulders, forcing himself further into you. You moan, clenching around him as he moves, holding you down by the hips as he slams into you with each thrust, gasps slipping past your lips and colors in your vision as he moves. Flowers blossom in your lungs as you try to catch your breath, head spinning deliciously at the taste of Jinshi's lips on yours, a light fragrance from the rice wine he had taken mixing with the one on your lips, and you moan into his mouth, squirming from his touch. Your legs relax over his shoulders as he presses into you, fingers digging into the plush of your thighs, hair sliding off his shoulders to cage you in as you whimper.

The wind rustles the trees outside as you cum around Jinshi the first time, brows knit together and eyes closed as your face twists from the unfamiliar sensation, head thrown back and lips parting once the crash ended, and Jinshi stills, hand reaching to brush your hair to the side, cupping your face with his hand. "You alright?"

"Felt weird." You mumble. "Did you..?"

"No." Jinshi hums. "Would you like me to? Inside?"

"I don't mind." You whisper.

"Alright," He starts moving again, focusing on himself as your legs slide off his shoulders and fall into the mattress, hooking behind his pelvis as he thrusts, your arms wrapping around his shoulders as he pistons into you, your breath caught in your throat as you see white and stars, drool threatening to leak down your chin and choke you with your head thrown back and muscles tense. Jinshi pants into your ear as he feels himself get close, pulsing and ebbing inside of you with each roll of his hips, your name spilling past his lips in some sort of raw desperation and begging, only spilling into you once you call his name back through your cloudy haze, white painting your walls as white fills your vision, the same white visible in the air on the snowy trees.

His breath mixes with yours as he rests his forehead on yours, bare skin pressed to yours, sweat and cum mixing with your own, the two of you merged as one. In the distant past, you loved him until it physically destroyed you, and in the distant future he will love you until he is stuck in the same destruction that had dragged you away from him. Only then would he forgive himself, lips spreading into a gentle smile, eyes staring into yours as yours are closed, catching your breath as your chest rises and falls, vine of hickeys and bruises trailing down from your neck to your waist. Your walls flutter around him as you recover from another orgasm, skin flushed like peonies as Jinshi tilts his head to press a kiss to your shoulder.

"Still with me?" He presses his palm to your cheek, palm brushing your skin.

"Yes." You pant, grimacing at the squelch that sounds when he pulls out of you.

"I wonder if we'll be with child."

"I doubt it's this easy." You mumble, lashes fluttering. "Would you want one?"

"Up to you." He mumbles, reaching to the side to pour himself another glass of wine. "We do not have to worry about succession either."

"Oh, I've never been so thankful to have not ended up where I was supposed to." You sigh in relief.

"You do not want one?"

"Not my priority." You hum. "Unless you wish for one."

"You are my priority." Jinshi hums, offering you a glass. "Another?"

"No." You roll onto your stomach to stretch your back. "We have plenty of time as well."

"I suppose." Jinshi hums, holding his hand out for yours.

You give him your right hand, and he pouts.

"Your left. The ring."

You free your arm and hold it out, and Jinshi kisses your knuckles gently, eyes closed as he hums contently.

"We match." He smiles, lips curled into a gentle smile, eyes full of a warmth you had forgotten he was capable of. You smile, a laugh bubbling out of your chest as he fiddles with your fingers, some sort of domestic ambiance filling the room. And just like that, your anxieties fade away, and a smile makes way on your face.

"I love you." He hums, lips pressed to your forehead as he lays next to you, still holding your hand, his ring brushing against yours.

"I love you too." and you close your eyes, body relaxing into his, heartbeat one below the missing sun.

#jinshi x reader #☾.fics #the apothecary diaries #the apothecary diaries x reader #jinshi #reader insert #kusuriya x reader #Kusuriya no Hitorigoto x reader #Kusuriya no Hitorigoto #☾.nsfw

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rutilation · 4 months

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youtube

This opening is replete with symbolism.

Flower language has been a recent fascination of mine.

Do you want to make my new hyperfixation your problem? If so, then let's take a deep dive into the first opening before the new one airs tomorrow.

Before I start, here are a couple of things to keep in mind.

While the use of flower language in this show mostly lines up with Japanese hanakotoba, there are still a number of flowers here that hold particular significance within Chinese culture, and thus have additional meanings that don't line up with those from Japan. I’ll be mentioning them alongside the Japanese meanings where I deem it relevant.

The following will contain light spoilers of content from the novels/manga which has not been animated at the time of writing. I'll try to be vague and sparing with it, but there are a few flowers I can't discuss without them.

Past the title card, the opening begins with eight blooming flowers dancing through the frame in rapid succession. These represent the storylines covered by the first cour of the anime in order of appearance, and each can be found in the episode(s) they signify. From the top:

Rhododendron: This plant is all over the first two episodes, so I'm going to cover its appearances before delving into its meaning. In episode one, there are two shots of the buds of this plant, one as Lihua gives birth, and then again as the doctor examines her baby. They're finally shown in full bloom as one of her ladies disregards the branch Maomao used to warn of the toxic makeup. In the following episode, Gyokuyou has seemingly taken a liking to the flower that saved her daughter's life, and a few clusters can be seen in a vase during several shots before Maomao uses them as an example of a seemingly innocuous plant that could cause accidental poisoning, and indeed, if you look closely at the background during the scene with the soldiers, you can see what appear to be rhododendron shrubs. There are actually quite a few different possible meanings for the many granular varieties of Rhododendrons/azaleas. Luckily, the characters said the name of the plant out loud for me: shakunage. So, this is Rhododendron subg. Hymenanthes. In hanakotoba it means dignity and majesty, but also, on account of its poison, danger and caution. Those last two meanings clearly line up with its ominous usage in these first episodes, growing and maturing as the babies grew sicker. But in addition to their function as a warning of danger, I think there's a case to be made that they also represent Gyokuyou herself. As I stated earlier, she starts keeping them after the first episode, and Hongniang later starts growing the closely-related azaleas in the jade pavilion as well. As for how its meanings apply to her, Gyokuyou is regal, magnanimous, and never loses her composure (unless it's at Jinshi's expense lol,) but she's also described by Gaoshun as shrewd and cautious, being unwilling to hire any lady she doesn't absolutely trust, and constantly gleaning information to send back to her family. These all fit with the dual meanings of rhododendron. In Chinese culture, rhododendrons and azaleas represent womanhood and passion, as well as home and a desire for homecoming.

Cotton rose: A type of hibiscus, this represents Fuyou, decorating both her person and her chambers in episode 3. It means 'delicate beauty' and 'graceful lover.' I think these are referring to both her skill in dancing, as well as her affectation of frailty and neuroticism. As far as I could dig up, its unique tendency to change color based on the time of day doesn't have particular bearing on its meaning in either Chinese or Japanese culture, but the story itself uses it as a metaphor for Fuyou hiding her passion, will, and cunning behind a wallflower exterior.

Balloon flower: In hanakotoba, it represents undying love, sincerity, and grace. These grow in the crystal pavilion, adorn the iconography of Lihua's furniture, and likely inform her blue and violet color scheme. Its last two descriptors gesture towards Lihua's style and personality. She's elegant and staid, but she also takes everything quite seriously, and wears her heart on her sleeve. As for the undying love element, I see that as alluding to her love for her son, her agony at his passing, and her hopes of reclaiming that love again through having another child.

Violet: This one actually tripped me up for the longest time. The flowers in the opening looked like hostas to me, but no matter how closely I looked at the backgrounds in this show, I couldn’t find anything along those lines. Eventually though, I caught on that these must be the violets from episode five, even if they’re a different color from those shown in the episode. And also droopier. Anyway, violets mean humility, sincerity, and ‘a little bit of happiness.’ In the episode proper, they are crushed underfoot as Maomao narrates about the lengths she had to go to keep herself safe while growing up in the red-light district, illustrating how even the modest aspirations of an ordinary peasant are in perpetual danger in such a cutthroat environment.

Chinese aster: Daisies and asters are my least favorite flowers to identify. They all look the same. As such, I’m a little less confident about this one, but I think it’s a Chinese aster. The leaves and buds look similar, and the context in which it appears in episode six suits its meaning. As Lishu’s ladies disparage her so-called pickiness, a shot of this flower opens the episode. While the Chinese aster’s meaning changes based on color, white in particular means ‘please believe me.’ I think that speaks for itself

Toad lily: This appears twice during episode eight, where Maomao gets drawn into the mystery of an attempted murder during her vacation. Toad lilies symbolize hidden thoughts and intentions, alluding both to the possible conspiracy on the part of the women of the brothel, and to the fact that Maomao will never really know the truth of the incident, having to content herself with speculation.

Sacred bamboo: This one is easy to miss, because while the plant is in full bloom in the opening, it’s laden with berries in the show proper. This is Nandina, a.k.a. the sacred bamboo, a mainstay of autumn and winter floral arrangements in both China and Japan. It’s considered auspicious, symbolizing a reversal of ill fortune into prosperity--the precise opposite of how it’s presented in episode nine of the show. There, Maomao fiddles with the plant as she contemplates all the instances she’s seen of good fortune being struck down by tragedy, and the prospect of that same sword of Damocles falling upon her head as well, a harbinger of eucatasrophe being used to symbolize straight catastrophe. Also worth noting is the fact that the plant is very poisonous, so much so that it has a reputation for killing any birds which try to eat its berries; I think that bit of trivia might be the inspiration behind the decision to ironically invert its lucky image. In addition to its central appearance in episode nine, it can also be seen in Lishu’s chambers in episode ten, mixed in among the vases of white camellias.

Japanese azalea: These mean passion and steadfastness, alluding, in my view, to Fengming’s devotion towards Ah-duo. Fun fact: did you know that honey made from toxic azaleas, termed ‘mad honey,’ is sometimes manufactured on purpose? It’s not super legal in most of the world, but apparently it can be used as a psychedelic.

After this, we see a panning shot of seven flowers, with the top four representing the high-ranking concubines, and the bottom three representing the high-ranking courtesans. While the first set of flowers grew from buds and flew across the screen, this set consists of still images. If I were to hazard a guess as to why, I'd say that it's because those previous flowers were conveying the movement of emergent stories, while these upcoming flowers portray the relatively static personality traits of individual characters. I'm going to tackle these in reverse order, as the first three flowers to appear are somewhat tricky to talk about.

Peony: This flower represents Gyokuyou, and in addition to appearing in her non-diegetic floral backgrounds, it also decorates the tapestries of the jade pavilion. In Chinese culture, peonies are one of, if not the most, important flowers. They represent feminine beauty, pride, honor, renown, wealth, prosperity, high-status, opulence, and a nobility of spirit. They are considered to be the king of flowers, and were historically only permitted to be grown by nobility. All of these superlatives are likely alluding towards Gyokuyou's status as the emperor's favorite consort, with the best shot at becoming empress.

Balloon flower: See above.

Lily-of-the-valley: This means purity, chastity, humility, and 'happiness will come again.' While the first three all seem to fit Lishu on their face, I find myself curious about the fourth meaning. I'm only partway through the third novel, but if this indicates that, at some point in the future, Lishu finally catches a break, then I'll certainly be happy to see it.

Dendrobium: In China, orchids in general are associated with elegance, refinement, and good taste, which fits with Maomao's description of the garnet pavilion as being beautiful in a minimalist sort of way. They also represent the virtues of an ideal gentleman-scholar: integrity, humility, temperance, and nobility. Furthermore, they are considered emblematic of spring; it, along with bamboo, chrysanthemum, and plum blossom, represent the four seasons. Returning to Japanese symbolism, the flower associated with Ah-duo seems to specifically be Dendrobium nobile. Nobile in particular means 'honest and to-the-point' in hanakotoba, likely alluding to Ah-duo's candid personality, and the fact that she is on casual terms with the emperor.

Regarding the final three flowers, the show itself doesn't explicitly tie any one of them to a particular courtesan--their flowers only appear as a group in episode twelve. But, by contemplating their meanings, and with some help from the characters' wiki pages, we can make some educated guesses.

Yulan Magnolia: This one, I'm guessing, represents Joka. On one hand, I'm kind of dumping her with this because the other two flowers just seem to fit the other two courtesans better, but its attributes nonetheless seem to accord what we know of her character--which admittedly isn't very much. In hanakotoba the yulan magnolia means nobility, sublimity and a love of nature. In China, its pretty similar: purity, nobility, dignity. It's also worth noting that they're commonly planted around Buddhist temples in China, and have been for many centuries, granting them an air of spiritual profundity. Joka is said to be aloof and cold, which is part of her appeal as a courtesan. While chrysanthemums and plum blossoms have a warmer aspect to their meanings, the loftiness of magnolia hews more closely to her characterization. Then there's the matter of her name, which is apparently a stage name. It translates to 'Lady Ka' (or 'Hua,' if you want to go with the Mandarin pronunciation.) Now, the 'ka' in her name is written as 華, and in the story, that character is only permitted to be used by the emperor and his family. So, for her to use it, even as a stage name, is a pretty bold pretense to nobility.

Chrysanthemum: In Japan, chrysanthemums are associated with nobility and the imperial family. In China, they are associated with longevity, endurance, and vitality, on account of their long-lasting blooms that persist late into autumn. I think this is most likely to be Pairin's flower. She's one of the few courtesans who's in her line of work because she wants to be, and is flourishing in an environment where others are desperate and debt-ridden. That covers 'vitality,' and Lihaku can attest to her endurance, if you know what I mean... Moving on, its mentioned in the novels that she's actually in her thirties, but still looks quite young, again harkening to the chrysanthemum's persistence.

As far as symbolism is concerned, chrysanthemums do seem to fit her character better than magnolias. But, something that gives me pause is her name, which means 'white bell,' on account of yulan magnolias being white and having a bell-like shape. I still think it's most likely that the chrysanthemum, and not the magnolia, belongs to her, but it was too notable a coincidence to not at least mention.

Plum Blossom: We can safely assume this one refers to Meimei, as her name is written with the character for plum. As plum trees are among the earliest to bloom each year, and will even bloom while snow still covers their branches, both China and Japan associate them with resilience, hope, inner-strength, and renewal. We don't know much about Meimei either, but my impression of her is that she seems to be the nicest and most even-keeled of Maomao's sisters.

Following this parade of showy flowers, we finally glimpse the emblem of our protagonist, Oxalis corniculata, the creeping wood sorrel, downcast and huddled amidst the underbrush of a forest. Whereas the other flowers we've seen thus far are primarily ornamental (even if some are also edible/medicinal,) wood sorrel is herbaceous and weedy, and is unlikely to grace any vases, wreaths, or arrangements. If it were spotted in a noble's garden, it would likely be uprooted, but to the peasant who finds it growing in a ditch, it's a tasty snack.

In hanakotoba, wood sorrel means joy, 'shining heart,' and 'a mother's love.' All three descriptors, I believe, are relevant to Maomao's character. Despite her flat affect, Maomao has a strong passion and sense of joie de vivre driving her through life. Those further along in either the novels or the manga will recognize 'a mother's love' as (somewhat ironically) gesturing towards her complicated relationship with her mother. As for 'shining heart,' I think that will become apparent as we go further through the opening.

But, before we do that, I'd like to take a moment to examine the moments when wood sorrel appears in the show itself. Thus far, by my recollection, it has appeared in episodes one, three, and twelve. The opening shot of the first episode is of a wood sorrel, informing the viewer in no uncertain terms that this is Maomao's flower, (in case the opening was too subtle.) In the third episode, several wood sorrels dot the field where Fuyou sits with her lover, symbolizing how Maomao has aided and protected them. In episode twelve, a single wood sorrel is tucked inside a lavish bouquet of her sister's flowers, a visual gag paralleling them fussing and fawning over her.

Returning to the opening, Maomao is shown contemplating a subtle glow in her closed hands while a reflected, sunlit version of herself glances back at her. Then, as all the previous flowers fall away, as Maomao casts the light up into the air, its glow illuminating her face, the wood sorrel finally stands upright, and blooms in full.

Now is a good time to mention a relevant characteristic of creeping wood sorrel: it only blooms in direct sunlight. When crowded by other plants, it curls in on itself, closing both its flower and leaves. This serves as a clear metaphor for Maomao's personality; under most circumstances, she seeks to be invisible and unobtrusive, but when she's in her element, she commands attention and respect.

Following this, we have her magical girl-esque transformation sequence, with her outstretched hands forming the shape of a blooming flower as she dances through a whirl of yellow wood sorrel petals. She then bows down in imitation of the flower, taking the light back into her chest (there's that shining heart I mentioned earlier,) as she dissolves into the stoic, unassuming version of herself once more, closing out the opening. (Jinshi who?)

I'd like to end this analysis with an observation. While the real wood sorrel exists at the perpetual mercy of outside forces, Maomao is not merely reacting to a light source that exists beyond her control. The light exists within her, and she chooses when it will shine down for all to see, and when she will hide it away in the depths of her heart. To those who've gotten this far, thank you so much for reading.

#the apothecary diaries #i like being mean to a certain someone #but i will note that i'm familiar with the interpretation that the lyrics of the op are written from his perspective #and i would agree that that reading has merit

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angelltheninth · 3 months

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Just the Fingertips

Pairing: Maomao x Jinshi

Tags: nsfw, smut, future fic, kissing, self-esteem issues, first time, semi-public sex, grinding, erections, clit stimulation, jealousy, protectiveness

Word count: 2.9k

Ao3

A/N: These two are gonna be the most badass couple when they get together.

“Are you sure you need to go to this event? Didn’t I pay your debt already?” Jinshi loosely embraced Maomao from behind, his chin leaning against her head.

“My debt isn’t the issue. They’re short on servers, a few of their usual ladies came down with colds. All around the same time. Funny how they all seemed to spend a lot of time around each other.” She could already deduce why all of them developed the same illness. Close relationships like that weren’t uncommon in the Verdigris House.

“Hmmm. I don’t like the thought of you spending time around lecherous men.” His hold on her small frame tightened, clearly feeling a little more possessive now that the two were finally dating. It took over three years but they were finally at that stage.

Jinshi couldn’t have been happier. He flaunted their relationship, holding Maomao’s hand at every opportunity and telling everyone about his cute and smart apothecary soon-to-be-wife. They hadn’t talked about that part yet but there was no one else Jinshi could imagine marrying. “You’re acting like a child.” He often presented himself as older then he was, trying to fit into a role. When he let his walls down was when Maomao liked him the most. “No one will so much as touch me. It will be optional but-”

“Optional?!” Did he hear that right? “Just what kind of event is this?!”

“One of the high-ranking officials expressed interest of buying someone of the Verdigris House. However he hasn’t yet decided on who it would be. He wanted a… wider sample then what he’s already seen. No one has to attend if they choose not to but they all know that many of his friends are just as rich is not richer. It’s a good opportunity to get new patrons. Naturally my sisters will be attending as well, but only as performers.” The Princesses have more then enough visitors, although their presence alone is sure to get them a few new ones at least.

“Can anyone attend this event?”

“Anyone with enough money. Why do you ask?” Maomao untangled from his embrace to look over the things she’s packed. Jinshi didn’t respond. Oh. “Jinshi, do you honestly think I would let another man lay a finger on me?”

“No, and if they did they’d lose it. But it’s been such a long time since I’ve seen you in your courtesan outfit. If other men get to see it then so should I.” Jealous. He was jealous. Of something that hasn’t even happened yet. “Plus... Maybe if I behave myself and you’ll let me have a sample of you too.”

“Guh!” A chill ran down her spine as she looked into his hooded eyes.

They hadn’t gone that far yet. Only making out and heavy touching. She could always feel how hard he was but he never insisted or pushed for anything. Given that he was such a pervert before she figured Jinshi would have gotten her pregnant already.

There was also the fact that if they did have sex she had no experience to speak of. She knew many things, many tricks to make any man or woman lose their minds to pleasure, both in company and on their own. She only tried a few of those on her own when the pressure was too much to ignore. Sex with someone else wasn’t something that interested her until very recently and only if she thought about having it with Jinshi. Would she be any good in practice as she is in theory?

It was a question that weigh heavy on her mind as Meimei applied makeup on her face.

"You're thinking so loud I can hear you." Joka commented as she embraced her from behind as she so often liked to do. All three of her sisters made sure to spend at least some time with her when she came to visit. Her purpose was more of a business one this time but still, they wanted to be the ones to help her get dressed. "What's bothering you?"

"Nothing."

"Liar." Meimei grinned at her as she pulled back to examine the work of art that was Maomao's makeup. "Is it something at the palace? The Emperor's kids? Jinshi?" Since Jinshi began dating Maomao her sisters didn't bother addressing him by his royal title.

"Is he being good to you?" Pairin chimed in when she saw the brief look of hesitation on Maomao. Joka tightened her hold protectively and Maomao knew damn well her sisters wouldn't hesitate to throw hands at Jinshi if he hurt her.

Was she really about to ask this? Then again who better to ask?

"He insisted on attending tonight." She tried not to bite her lip and ruin her sister's hard work. "The two of us have yet to go all the way. I know he wants to, he's wanted to for a while but all he ever does is try to tease me when we're in bed. I think he has expectations that I... don't know if I can fulfill. He'd probably have a much better time if he married one of you three." All her insecurities came flooding out and once and she was left with uncomfortable beats of silence.

It was Meimei who spoke up first. "Maomao, it's at times like this that I wonder how smart you really are." She took one of Maomao's hand in hers, "Medicine and poison. Those are some of your strengths. Are they useful in bed? Sure, under certain circumstances." Pairin giggled knowingly.

"If you think Jinshi would choose any of us over you then you might be a bit sick right now." Joka's hand rose up to press against Maomao's forehead, also pushing her closer to her.

"Men come to us for company and sex. If that was all that Jinshi wanted he wouldn't have gone to such lengths for you. He's a handsome man with both money and power. Could have spent it on anyone. Yet," Pairin pointed at her little sister, "he choose you to be his future wife. Maomao, I've seen what people look like when they're deeply in love. That look? I see it every time Jinshi looks at you."

Maomao could feel her face heat up at the truth of those words. Her sisters were right, Jinshi wouldn't care about her skills, the man would probably come undone as soon as she touched him from his happiness alone.

What a lovely image.

A bit too much so if the way her heart kept beating on her way to the lavish home. She had her sisters for company, she knew Jinshi would be there too. But that was the problem. After the things she's revieled how could she act normal around her boyfriend?

The moment she saw him sitting all alone in a darker corner she felt a flood that was equally guilt and arousal. Guilt that she ever thought that someone who looked at her like she was the only person in the room would even consider sleeping with someone else. And arousal because the thoughts of something happening between them tonight wouldn't leave her mind.

She, like her sisters and everyone else kept things casual and friendly through the first round of song, dance and drinks. Jinshi's eyes were only on her, the only time he looked away was to be polite when drinks or snacks were served to him, and of course to decline unwanted advances, of which there were many.

Jinshi was always sexy, she knew that from the very first moment she saw him.

"Little lady, want to join us for a drink?" Maomao looked at the table she was serving. They looked like soldiers, youtful, with a strong build. Glorified bodyguards probably.

To stay polite she poured them each a new drink and declined, "I'm already spoken for." For forever. She saw their faces drop and they were about to speak again when Maomao looked Jinshi's way just in time for him to invite her over. "Excuse me, but please do help yourselves to other company." Her glance held a little too much warning. The group collectevly gulped and nodded, silently promiseing to behave.

Maomao walked to Jinshi's table. It was smaller and partially hidden away by the dimmer light and a red, silky courtain.

"Have I told you how beautiful you look?" Jinshi smiled as he leaned his face in his palm.

"Every time I've been here." Jinshi nodded at her and offered his hand. Maomao hesitated only for a moment, studing his face. He had that relaxed air around him that she liked so much. Here he wasn't a Prince, he was Jinshi, her future husband. She could trust him.

Taking his hand she allowed him to pull her close to his lap. He kissed the top of her head as she leaned against him with her back, his larger frame slouching against her. By the looks of things what they were doing was rather tame by comparison of some heated kisses Maomao had spotted.

It wasn't unusual for things to escalate when touching was allowed although no one went all the way. It was foreplay to the ladies eventually leading their lovestruck cousumers to bed. A game of cat and mouse.

"Maomao." Jinshi spoke in a low tone. "Someone wants to come this way."

She didn't notice them being stared at by a group of women. They were older than her, perhaps her sister's age. Bigger... in many places. And looked at Maomao like she just killed their pet.

Well in a way she did. All women in the red light dictrict were well aware of where they stood in society. Yet some had more standing then others, and sought to exploit it and get even higher, toying with and breaking the hearts of those who visited them. Jinshi, as much as he could try to hide it was a man of high standing. Beautiful and with money he was the mouse, and those women were the cats.

But so was Maomao.

She felt exceptionally petty tonight. Jinshi had an influence on her. Maomao looked up at him but he was already half-way to her lips. His fingers brushed against her chin, his eyes locking with hers for a moment before closing them. Her's remeined open to look at the group of onlooking women who seemed to hate her even more now.

"The color sticks." She whispered against his lips. The red lipstick was indeed smeared against both their lips. Jinshi didn't seem to mind.

"Shall I give it back?" He leaned back a little and let his hands run against her sides. "On other places perhaps."

Her body got hotter, she coukd feel her heart beating and she wanted him to feel it too. Steeling her nerves she took his hands and pushed them against her breasts. Jinshi let out a surprised gasp. "Sorry there's not much to grab."

"What are you talking about Maomao? They're perfect." Jinshi kept one hand on the outside but slipped the other one under Maomao's clothes, his hand palming over her whole breast. "I wouldn't want you any other way."

Based on what she usually saw it was hard to believe that. "Most men prefer them bigger."

"I prefer my Maomao." Jinshi smiled against her shoulder, moving the remaining clothes out of the way. "Is it okay to touch here too?" Two rough fingers slipped between her legs but he didn't move them further then her thighs.

Maomao gulped. Her eyes scanned the room once more. She could hardly ask for much more privacy then she already has in this dark corner. Lucky for her, and her pride and dignity, no one was paying attention to them, not even those women who were now busy with their own clients.

For her this far more then a part-time job. This was the first time she'd let her lover... Jinshi, to touch her in such a way. The first time any man would touch her in such a way actually.

After a deep breath in and out she parted her legs, his hand cupping her pussy with ease. "You can touch me there. And inside too."

Jinshi's hands twitched at that. The one on Maomao's breast pressed back too hard causing her to bite back a moan. She might get fucked by him but she refused to go out of her way to put on a show. But again, like before, the music and the song drowned out her noise, making it one only Jinshi was privlidged enough to hear.

"I won't go inside you. That should be saved for a more private affair." He wasn't fooling her with his sweet and kind words. She could feel his hard cock pressing and pulsing below her. It wanted her, he wanted her and if he were a different kind of man he would have fucked her over the table.

But if he were a different kind of man Maomao wouldn't have fallen in love with him.

With her legs spread enough for him to move his hand as he wanted she let her head fall against Jinshi's chest. Oh. His heart was racing too.

Two fingers spread her open while the third moved down to the enterance of her pussy, circling and pushing in just a tiny bit to get the wetness going. Maomao only had experiance with her own hands and fingers and they were so much thinner than Jinshi's. But his were more gentle, giving away his mostly pampered lifestlye.

He was a hard worker, yet his hands always remained delicate, fitting of someone of his high station. Maomao didn't mind this, he was her opposite and she loved him for it. He completed her.

Once she had his cock inside her he will trully complete her. She could never imagine doing so with anyone else.

Hell she couldn't have imagined herself doing this with him a few years ago. Before she shivered from his fake persona, his flirty nature and beauty that hid all his sorrow. Now that she knows the real him she welcomes his touch, embraces it even.

Now if only he would stop teasing.

Or could it be... "Jinshi, do you not know where the clitoris is?"

"What?! Of course I do, I took my lessons in human anatomy seriously. And..." He went quiet, his hand falling still, "I found it before."

"Have you?" Maomao wasn't about to scold him about having slept with women before her. Why should she? Jealousy seemed pointless given that Jinshi looked at her, only at her for years now. "I need a demonstration otherwise I might suspect you're lying to me."

Jinshi pressed his lips together, pouting at the doubt Maomao cast at his skills. If she wanted a demonstration he would give her one.

His fingers stopped just above her clit, then tapped it twice. Both taps made Maomao's hips twitch. Like him, she was touch-starved, but she had more of a lid on her needs. It was hard for her to be honest with them, with him, at least when it comes to more intimate things.

But she was slowly learning how and accepting her own lust for him.

One hand between her legs, the other on her breast, Jinshi leaned against her shoulder as he moved. Maomao bit the inside of her cheek as Jinshi's two fingers trapped and rolled her clit between the tips, mirroring what his other fingers were doing to her nipples.

As for her own hands Maomao slapped them over her mouth. Muffling her moans she tried to keep her body still, but it was responding to the intoxicating touches. She finally understood what her sisters meant when they spoke about men feeling different. Maybe it was just Jinshi for her but his touch made her feel like she was in fire.

Jinshi's middle finger reached down to Maomao's pussy entrance and gathered some of the wetness and proceeded to roll it over her clit, making it wetter, slippery and sensitive to his touch.

It never felt like this. Every nerve ending in her body felt like it was burning up. The only thing that could make it stop was poking her in the ass. Maomao was seconds away from telling him to fuck her over the table. These thoughts were something she had while she was asleep, when she touched herself, now they feel even more intense, almost overwhelming.

This feeling... was she close? Jinshi's breath warmed her neck, breathing fast, grunting as Maomao rolled her ass against erection.

She was getting him all hot and bothered and she wasn't really doing much. He was getting off from seeing her coming. She was right before, he was so cute. And he was about to make her-

"Jinshi!" Maomao moaned his name against her hands, her hips thrusting upwards, rolling her clit against his fingers with no control or care.

"Maomao." He breathed against her neck, quickly kissing it to muffle his own noises. There was a wet stain on his clothes spread, his cock twitching but luckily Maomao was the only one who knew. "Looks like... I found it."

"So you did. Good work Jinshi." Maomao patted him on the cheek for a job well done.

He glowed, happy as a puppy at her small praise.

Jinshi pulled her clothes back in place and wrapped his arms around her, laughing a little loudly and just now catching the attention of a few people. When they looked at them they saw two people in love, blushing for each other and cuddling. Maomao turned her reddening face away and quickly turned to press it against Jinshi's chest.

Somehow having people stare at them while they were a lovey-dovey couple was more of an embarrassing moment then her coming from his fingers just moments before. She would work on that first one in the future.

#kusuriya no hitorigoto #the apothecary diaries #maomao #jinshi #jinmao #smut fanfiction

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nijigasakilove · 1 month

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The fact we got this and Frieren airing at the same time for 6 months.. I really don’t think people appreciated how generational that run is. What a time to be alive. Sad to see this end, but there’s the LN and S2 coming! GTA 6 and this in the same year will be wild lol.

Lakan plotting revenge on buddy for putting his hand on Maomao shoulder got me dying. How the author took him from being this seemingly horrible conniving person to a doting overprotective father gotta be studied. A masterclass in gradual character reveal.

S/O to Meimei for being the real fucking MVP of this series omg. The look of shock Lakan had on his face when she opened the door to be able to go see Fengxian was great. I thought my screen had frozen because bro was shook. He probably hasn’t ran that fast in decades lol, but such a beautiful scene with him seeing her again after all these years and even with the health condition she’s just as beautiful as he remembered both inside and out. After all the BS they been thru they deserved this. They were always happiest when they played Go so fitting that’s how their reunion goes.

Maomao’s outfit from the 2nd OP is finally here! That dance scene MOVED me. Beautifully choreographed and animated. Maomao is so gorgeous, man. No wonder Jinshi gets weak in the knees when he sees her get dolled up lol. Speaking of Jinshi, the fancams and AMVs are going to eat the scenes up that we got today. Him almost knocking her off the bridge, then carrying Maomao back home, so cute!

He really thought Maomao was going to confess to him there, whole time she just wants that Ox Bezoar for her experiments lmaooo. 😂 she definitely knows how to get what she wants out of him now.

Great finale, happy end for everyone. But the mysteries of the rear palace are far from solved. Still a lot of things left to be answered and I can’t wait for s2. They can take all the time they need cooking up. We can read in the meantime. I’m going to miss Maomao Saturdays so much.

Review: https://myanimelist.net/reviews.php?id=519355

#kusuriya #kusuriya maomao #kusuriya anime #the apothecary diaries anime #the apothecary diaries #apothecary diaries #maomao jinshi #maomao #kusuriya no hitorigoto #animanga hive #animanga #animangahive

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maomaop · 3 months

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So I absolutely loved episode 17 of the apothecary diaries… they nailed this scene, and most anime onlys were taken aback by how things got dark pretty quickly. The closing scene of the episode being this and ending up on that point was just so perfect. I loved the direction of this episode, and how well they adapted the last scene with the ost that perfectly set the right atmosphere. I don’t know if anime onlys caught on how the question affected Maomao because there was clearly a change of expression on her face and a very serious one at that, hence the sudden change of atmosphere perfectly fitting for an uncomfortable conversation. But Im sure they are thinking Lakan forced himself on Fengxian but all Im gonna say is wait for the whole story!

the blurry background… the silence, the intimacy of the conversation, the sunset along with her speaking of this close to his destination which seems to be much more than just a simple restaurant is just such a nice and important detail.

#kusuriya no hitorigoto #the apothecary diaries #maomao #jinshi #apothecary diaries

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coldinternetllama · 4 months

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My take on the epilogue of LN 5

Spoilers until the prologue of LN 6!

So I have been thinking about the choking scene at the end of volume 5 of TAD, as it has been bothering me a lot, since it seemed too OOC for Jinshi, at least in my opinion. I mean, sure, he does have some borderline toxic tendencies, but that was a bit too much, even for him. I have tried to think of an explanation that would fit him, but all of my theories didn't quite fit in with the story and the characters. That is, until another user pointed out how frustrating it is that Maomao sees herself as completely expendable and is even convinced that Jinshi would kill her, if he saw fit. We (and Jinshi) are aware of that ever since the time she requested to be killed with poison. Generally, this is part of her apathy towards her own life, as she always goes with the flow and tries not to stand out too much. A core part of her character, and yet one that frustrates Jinshi more than anything.

To explain what I mean, it has always appeared to me that Jinshi wants Maomao to make her own choices and, basically, take charge of her life. For example, after the incident with Fengming, he let Maomao go, because he thought that was what she wanted, and he wanted to respect her wish. The same goes for the time he refused to let Lakan visit her, as his name made her visibly upset. Jinshi does obviously care for what she wants.

On the other hand, her passiveness upsets him. The fact that she sees so little value in her life and assumes he does as well angered him a lot during her request to be executed with poison. Her lack of any (!) reaction to his advances later in the novels also upsets him in the same way. So I have been thinking, what if the choking was him trying to see how much he has to push her for her to retaliate, to try and fight for her own life, which she sees as so expendable. A reminder, but Jinshi also said he didn't want her to poison herself for her experiments. Maybe he was hoping that she would push him away and finally understand that she indeed has a choice regarding how her life and her relationship with him goes. Of course, Maomao being Maomao interprets this as some sort of punishment. And maybe she is right, we never get to see much about Jinshi's thought process during this particular scene. Obviously, it was wrong, and I am not excusing him, however he himself obviously does not know how to express himself or his emotions correctly, and thus his actions gain a possessive, even scary twist. And this is also how I would classify the choking: a twisted attempt to push her to actively participate in their relationship. To me, it definitely sounds more likely than a petty "punishment" out of jealousy. At least that is what makes sense to me and what I want to believe for the sake of him being one of my favourite characters (yeah, I might be biased).

To reiterate, he was probably trying to show her what could happen if she continued letting people decide for her. If we think about it, even her dance with Rikuson was not something she actively wanted to participate in. Maomao's passive behaviour might be alright for a commoner servant (and she loves to see herself as just that), however at this point of the story she is seen by everyone else as part of noble society and feigning ignorance the way she does it is extremely dangerous for a noble. Granted, Jinshi should have tried telling her with words and not violence, but she is also notorious for not listening to people, especially when she doesn't like the topic, so I can see why he might have thought this was the only way.

Anyways, thanks for reading, if you made it that far, and do let me know if all that makes sense to you.

#the apothecary diaries #jinshi #maomao #kusuriya no hitorigoto #I might be delusional

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thedevilundercover · 2 months

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An au with the batfam in The Apothecary Diaries.

Tim gives off such Maomao vibes. He would definitely be obsessed with poisons, the little freak /aff

Ig you could go with Dick as Jinshi (I don’t ship them so I would make them platonic)

I would put Dick as Jinshi because there could be a cool subplot about Dick realising that Tim really doesn’t give a single shit about how good he looks. It could be a like heart touching hurt comfort moment bc Dick finds a person who he likes who doesn’t sexualise him and he is around Tim without the detachment that his true status gives him.

The emperor is, ofc, Bruce. I really think he would be a better brother figure to Dick than a father tbh. He also would have a ton of concubines and consorts to make people underestimate him for just another free spirited rich guy who’s braincells were all killed by ethanol.

Selina is Gyokuyou bc why not

I don’t really care for Talia but ig she could be Ah-Duo

Jason as Lishu ok ok ok listen to me, yeah that’s fucked up that Lishu was married and a fucking mother in law at nine but that’s the point it’s fucked up and you’re supposed to go oh shit, wow that’s messed up.

what’s more he just kind of fits into her character. An emperor probably can’t just adopt a random guy, but he probably went oh damn that sucks for him.

#tim drake #dcu #tim drake robin #the apothecary diaries #kusuriya no hitorigoto #mao mao #bruce wayne #red robin #dick grayson #jinshi #Bruce wayne #jason todd #selina kyle #bruce x selina #talia al ghul #do I know how Damian fits into this? No

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drcatco · 3 months

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Kusuriya no Hitorigoto Ep 16

Fishy. Maomao is now asked to solve the mystery of a will, couched in vague phrases like "It would be great if (my sons) could all have tea together, like in the old days." It seems the father would like his sons to get along better, but they have other ideas. Jinshi is not at all amused at the task, but Maomao is too curious to pass up the opportunity.

This time, like last time, Maomao is accompanied by Basen, as serious as ever.

Upon arrival, Maomao notices that this blacksmith's house shows how peculiar his life was: he collected unusual rocks and had buildings in strange places for a house. Inside one of these buildings, he meets the blacksmith's sons, brothers who have been left certain objects as an inheritance. They are not happy: the older brother has been left the building, the middle one a cupboard anchored to the building, and the younger one a…. fishbowl? There is also a key that does not fit any of the cabinet's locks…

The brothers are understandably frustrated. As Maomao thinks some more about the sentence in the will, their mother brings them tea, and Maomao notices how the sun's rays pass through the window.

And she realizes it. Basen reminds her of Gaoshun!

But that's not important right now. The position of the cabinet, the fact that it is anchored to the room, the discoloration of the table, and…. the fishbowl? Put in a certain way, it's possible that-

Maomao decides to test her theory. She has the fish tank filled with water, puts it in the place where the table is discolored, and waits for the sun's rays to pass through.

With that she gets one of the locks to heat up, and when the middle brother tries to use the key, it worked.

Basically, the lock was filled with a metallic material. When heated, the material melted, releasing the lock and filling a mold, opening the drawer… and finding a mold of another key which in turn opens the other drawers, revealing other materials of no apparent value, at least to two of the brothers. However, the third brother realizes that these objects, these pieces of metal and stone can be mixed to form a compound that would allow him to work with welding more easily.

And so the mystery is solved. I liked how it shows that the father appreciated each of his children in his own way, extolling the qualities of each one.

Back in Jinshi's office, Lakan mentions how the third brother has taken advantage of what his father left him, and how his inheritance has allowed him to continue the work his father did, such as crafting ceremonial equipment used in the palace. To end the past conversation about how to diminish the value of a courtesan, Lakan recommends that Jinshi better go and ask someone who has been in that world. Someone… like Maomao.

The episode ends with something unusual... How much does Maomao know about makeup? and the possibility that she would do Jinshi's makeup...

#kusuriya no hitorigoto #the apothecary diaries #maomao #jinshi #lakan

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thenanamisimp · 1 month

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End of 2024 winter season - part 1

So! It is the end of another anime season. Here's what I've been watching:

Cherry magic! 30 years of virginity can make you a wizard?! - Wednesdays

A sign of affection – Saturdays

The apothecary diaries – Saturdays

Solo leveling – Saturdays

Mr villain’s day off – Sundays

Yeah most of them were Saturday releases and it was a PAIN cause it meant I barely had anything to watch during the week. It did give me time to binge other shows tho so I ended up making a lot of progress with my alphabetical series this season (I’m actually almost done with it but I ended up starting 2 anime that aren’t part of the series lol so!)

As of this last week, A sign of affection, The apothecary diaries and Mr villain’s day off have finished airing. This week, the final episodes for Cherry magic! and Solo leveling are coming out so reviews for those will be next week!

A sign of affection

Yuki is trying to navigate the new world that is college as a deaf person with the help of her new friend Rin. One day she meets the well travelled Itsuomi and they both catch each other's attention. Itsuomi starts learning sign language to communicate with her and as they start seeing each other, things develop in the cutest way possible.

Honestly, I was excited about this anime ever since I heard about it a while ago and it somehow managed to exceed my expectations. This is literally the cutest college/university romance I've watched and I wanna see more of them SO BAD, PLUS the side couples are adorable as fuck. The art style is so pretty and seriously fits the vibes of the anime. This is not a skippable one imho, DEFINITELY watch this, especially if you like romance.

The apothecary diaries

Maomao, an apothecary working under the emperor's concubines at the palace, comes across strange happenings and solves mysteries. Jinshi, the young eunuch that all the female palace workers have a crush on, develops a liking for Maomao.

This anime is so unique, probably due to the fact this is an anime not focused around romance with a female protagonist who's badass and her character doesn't revolve around a man. Maomao is one of the coolest female characters I've come across in anime PERIOD. Especially in a shounen. Tho tbh I'm not sure if this is supposed to be a shounen or a shoujo anime but either way, we love Maomao in this house.

The animation is beautiful as well as the colour theme chosen, just like a lot of anime recently. I genuinely think this anime would be liked by anyone and it might be my new recommendation for people wanting to get into anime as it's an easy watch and doesn't have any weird anime tropes in it.

Mr villain’s day off

Slice of life anime about what the villain does on his day off. Pretty self explanatory. This is cute and definitely just a feel good anime. I did find it slightly boring and some weeks I ended up skipping the episode and then watching it the week after. But I also am not one that watches a lot of slice of life, especially not ones where the story isn't continuous between each episode. If you like slice of life, you'll probably enjoy this tho. Cute art and I like the colour themes chosen. The intro and outro were surprisingly good as well. This was probably my least liked of the season. I need angst or at least some romance lol

Thank you for reading another anime ramble! Enjoy watching :)

theNanamiSimp

#anime #anime recommendation #anime review #a sign of affection #yubisaki to renren #the apothecary diaries #kusuriya no hitorigoto #mr villain's day off

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squishlamb · 3 months

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guess who binged the apothecary diaries and is going thru brainrot yayyyy

i’m tryna design charms + stickers with different facial expressions on each side ! !!

idk if i should keep the cat ears or not tho haha i think they’re cute…

originally i wanted to put different outfits on each side (everyday fit and garden party fit) but it was too hard for me tryna match the silhouettes without making big compromises 😭 … so i plan to make two different keychains for maomao (or mao squared as i wrote here) and everyone else will just be regular fits 😆

#mine #my art #wip #the apothecary diaries #knh

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hekates-corner · 4 months

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Apothecary Diaries | WN Translation | Arc 9 - Chapter 20

Hi and welcome!

For a number of reasons I ended up here. I go about translating to the best of my abilities, relaying all that happens in the chapters - pretty much playing wine-aunt.

So, be warned that all the spoilers are down below. Want some but not all? My dm's/asks are open!

New here or missed a part? Check out the Masterlist.

Enjoy & please take a look at the notes, if you're caught up!

Chapter 20 | A Twisted Past

Maomao checks with Kurumu: So you know the wind reading clan?

The self-proclaimed “beautiful girl” crossed her arms and grunted “Hmm/Well”.

Kurumu: I know, or rather, that’s what my great-grandfather used to call it when he was still living in the grasslands. Well, I only know very little/not much about it either, I’ve only asked my grandmother a few times.

Maomao: Can you tell us as much as you know?

Kurumu: Eh, what should I do?

Narrator-Mao notes that as she made a bad move, Kurumu got carried away.

Kurumu: I can’t say it’s free but/though

Grinning, Kurumu asks for money.

Taomei: Hehe, do you want to get turned in by/to the officials?

Eyes reminiscent of a bird of prey flashed behind Kurumu. Taomei looks on with a smile. Narrator-Mao notes that.. for some reason, the unrelated Basen cowered and the owl was trembling, its wings ruffled.

Kurumu’s face twitched.

As expected, Taomei is a scary wife who puts Gaoshun in place.

Maomao deliberately clears her throat.

Maomao(?): …… I think we’re making a concession here. You answer the questions. I won’t expose you to the officials. Also, depending on what you do in the future—

Taomei: Right, we can also discuss what to do with this owl

Taomei continues Maomao’s answer.

Kurumu: Understood. (it’s short and rushed, fitting for being gaslit like this). What I heard from grandma was that a long time ago, a nomadic family was hunted by slaves. I heard that most of the people who were hunted were killed, the women were taken as wives and the children were sold as slaves.

Narrator-Mao’s like “that’s info even I know”.. however, there is one thing that’s bothering her.

Maomao: I heard that the wind reading clan uses birds. Does this mean that the method of incubating and raising bird eggs has never ceased?

Kurumu: That’s it. Ah, that was a bad thing to say. The wind reading clan was destroyed. The divided half

Maomao: Half?

Maomao and the others stare at Kurumu.

Kurumu: That’s right. They must’ve been going around the grasslands for some kind of festival or something. In that case, wouldn’t it be better to move in parts, rather than all at once. There was also a means of communication using birds.

Maomao nods, saying that’s certainly true.

Maomao: But what happened to the remaining half? It seems that the wind reading clan is thought to have disappeared. Was the festival not continued?

Kurumu: Yes/Hmm. I don’t really understand/get it. Apparently my great-grandfather was one of the surviving members of the family, but he died when grandma was about ten years old. Granny said that he had taught her a lot about birds, but he was no longer grazing and was living in the city. However, there was a regular customer who would buy the pigeons he raised, so he didn’t have to worry about food/eating them.

Maomao: A regular?

Kurumu: Well, I was told that he must be some kind of big name, but I haven’t heard any details about him. I mean, even grandma didn’t seem to know much about it.

Everyone falls silent at Kurumus testimony.

Kurumu: Huh? Did I say something weird?

Maomao?: No, thank you very much.

As narrator she goes on ask-stating if that’s what’s meant with a horse coming from a gourd, which is a literal translation from a saying about a joke/something very unexpected actually coming true. But then she argues that she’d assumed it could be somewhat related to the wind reading clan, it just got to the core of it all more than she expected.

Kurumu: Compromise. Can I take this one home? I found a place that looked like a good spot for releasing (owly).

Maomao(?) asks if she’s actually going to let owly go if they hand owly over and Kurumu explains that that’s what she’d intended to do and what she’d been taught by her grandmother.

Maomao makes eye contact with Taomei. Taomei nodded quietly, so Maomao handed the cage containing owly over to Kurumu. Kurumu smiled broadly.

Maomao: May I ask you one more question?

Kurumu: What is it?

Now that the bird had been returned, Kurumu seemed to be in a good mood, saying this with her teeth showing.

Maomao: You said that your father and Gyokuou-sama’s mother are related, but is it okay to assume that your mother is also part of the wind reading clan?

Kurumu: I can’t say for sure, but…… She seemed to like birds and was used to handling them.

Narrator-Mao notes that if Gyokuou’s mother is from the wind-reader clan, there would be various connections.

Going on to think: I got some useful information though

However, Narrator-Mao’s like.. if they believe Kurumu’s story, several contradictions will appear.

Maomao thinks: If the wind-reading clan had not perished, perhaps they could’ve continued the festival even after that.

Which would mean they’d have to question what the meaning of what Nenshin, who’d become a serf, was doing actually was.

And why did the wind-reader clan become extinct?

Narrator-Mao thinks that a strange/suspicious point just appeared.

In her mind, concluding that one possible possibility is…

Maybe they pretended the wind reading clan was destroyed and used their abilities for something else. (also got that they destroyed them to use their abilities)

“The faster information is transmitted, the stronger it is” - she points out in her head.

Once you surround them with the fact that they perished, there’s many ways to use them. This isn’t strange, considering that Kurumu’s grandmother was already living in the city. It also makes sense that Kurumu’s great-grandfather passed away so early.

Maomao goes on thinking, about great-grandpa’s premature death, that once the technique has been passed down - those who know the past are in the way. (because they know too much)

Kurumu: Hey. Nee-chan. Can I go home now?

Maomao startles as Kurumu pokes her. She seemed to be in deep thought.

Maomao: Sorry. Could you please give me/us your contact information? I might also be able to introduce a customer who also wants a small bird.

Kurumu: …… Eh, I’m kind of scared

Narrator-Mao notes that Kurumu doesn’t seem to be fooled by her fake smile. (Maybe) There was a look on Maomao’s face as if she was going to let a valuable source of information escape.

Taomei: Hehe. I(?) would never do anything terrible to a child. Hey/Listen, could you please introduce me to your father?

Taomei’s eyes light up.

Kurumu reacted timidly, nodding.

Mind-Mao’s like: She’s just too strong

Going on as narrator: Even though she’s a different type from Suiren and the Madam (granny from Verdigris)

Mind-Mao thinks that it’s quiet around her/that it’s no wonder everyone around her (Taomei) is so quiet.

Chue is not as bubbly/outspoken as usual and Basen has a selfless look on his face, one that resembles Gaoshun. Maomao wonders if this is how today’s Gaoshun was created.

Once Kurumu was sent home with a/her servant, Taomei looks at Maomao.

Taomei: From the look on your face it seems like you’ve come up with a few things.

Narrator-Mao notes that this seems to be a polite way of saying: If you know something, tell me.

Maomao: This is just my assumption and it may be (wild and?) absurd

Recently, Maomao has had some antipathy with her adoptive father, Luomen, but she is basically faithful to his teachings. She doesn’t intend to judge things based on speculation without evidence.

Taomei: But my-, our master isn’t looking for a definite conclusion every single time/for every single thing. He’s a master of taking everything into his own hands, but could you please speak with him once so that we can plan for possible future countermeasures?

Taomei looks at Maomao with the eyes of a bird of prey.

Maomao?: Well then—

Maomao opens her mouth to tell Taomei to tell Jinshi her story.

Taomei: No, please meet and talk with him directly.

Maomao: I don’t think there’s a problem with talking about it here

As narrator Maomao doesn’t think that Taomei would twist around the speculations she told her.

Taomei: No. Sometimes I need a distraction

Maomao: Huh?

Maomao could only narrow her eyes at Maomao, who gave her a slightly mischievous smile

Notes

This shit’s getting wild xD

– Please note that this was originally Arc 10. I wrongly assumed since it's going to be LN 10 it would line up, but it was brought to my attention that 2 of the arcs are split up due to how long they are. It doesn't change much per se, since it's still future LN V10, but I'm sticking to the promised honesty, if I get something wrong somewhere. I've gone ahead and renumbered all the posts by now.

– A bird of prey is a bird like an eagle/hawk that kills and eats other birds/animals

– The line about the horse and the gourd was an actual chain of kanji. You can google it and it'll come up: hyōtankarakoma xD

– Which, btw is unrelated, but Basen’s often coming up in translators as “Horse flash” which is always funny. Taomei is peach(es)

– The “selfless” expression mentioned from Basen towards the end is “muga no kyouchi”, a state of self actualization. It’s a state where a person has surpassed his/her limit and starts to copy and execute techniques that he/she has seen/experienced in a random pattern. And yes, this is part of Prince of Tennis xD

– One of the only things I don’t know this time is who’s servant Kurumu leaves with.

– I most often got that sometimes Taomei (aka “I” not “you”) needs a distraction, which.. She's a married wife, with grown kids, her husband in tow - I did get it a minimal amount that sometimes “you” need a distraction, but with Maomao’s reaction and Taomei’s mischievous smile.. 6 and 9 is a number once added up that equals yoga between the sheets.

– I also got it a couple of times that Taomei has a couple of potential clients that could want birds from Kurumu’s dad, but for now I settled on one (Jinshi, the obvious target)

I hope you enjoyed. Buckle up, this is going somewhere. I just love that Taomei is domming anyone and everyone like they’re all just clay in the palm of her hands. Stay safe and I’ll see you soon!

#kusuriya no hitorigoto #the apothecary diaries #hekates apothecary

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