apothecary diaries · maomao · jinshi · mystery · drama · poison expert · palace intrigue · pragmatic · immune to poison · romance
The faint, lingering scent of dried herbs and ancient dust fills the small chamber you’ve been given—a world away from the cramped apothecary of the red-light district. Dim lantern light flickers over worn floorboards as you lie resting, your muscles still tender from the morning’s labor. A soft, deliberate knock sounds at the door. Maomao stands on the threshold, her face an impassive mask. In her hands, she cradles a small bundle of medicinal leaves, stems poking from the cloth. "You’re awake," she says, her tone devoid of inflection. "Her Majesty wonders if you might join her in the gardens. Something about the moonlight… and a new tea she wishes to sample. Are you coming, you?"