The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel): Volume 3
Ratings10
Average rating4.6
15
Ratings10
Average rating4.6
Maomao must help keep Consort Gyokuyou safe during her pregnancy. An imperial consort being with child is supposed to be a matter of the utmost secrecy, but this is the rear palace, where maneuvering and backstabbing are as commonplace as banter and tea parties. Threats seem to lurk around every corner—but it’s not just the rear palace keeping busy. Jinshi finds himself struggling to entertain a most unusual request from a pair of visiting ambassadors. Later, he’s invited to an important gathering in a faraway place—but who knows what dangers might be waiting for him?
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14 primary booksThe Apothecary Diaries (Novel) is a 14-book series with 14 primary works first released in 14 with contributions by Natsu Hyuuga, Kevin Steinbach, and 2 others.
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Unlike the previous two volumes, the third book of The Apothecary Diaries is mainly building up tension for political movements. There are envoys from foreign lands who seem to have their eyes on the emperor, and the objective of Consort Loulan's father remains a mystery. Maomao is still working for Gyokuyou, who is currently pregnant... but she's not the only one, and it opens up the way for all sorts of trouble in the rear palace. There's a lot of small incidents and peculiar things happening, including a school built inside the rear palace and also the introduction of Shisui, a serving woman who seems to spend her days chasing bugs.
Where these seemingly small things lead, however, does not lie in this volume. Instead, the highlight of the book is given to Maomao and Jinshi's relationship. It's clear enough that he's interested in her, but she finally gives him a reaction that isn't disgust or indifference. Maomao spends a good portion of the book away from Jinshi as she deals with various issues in the real palace, so it's nice to see them having some development despite not getting too many scenes together. Jinshi's real identity is also revealed, answering some of the questions from the previous books.
Oh, and Maomao touched the frog.
Jinshi's frog.
While I really enjoy Maomao's detective work and medicine analysis, I'm also looking forward to see how the main plot is going to unfold from here on out.
