The Apothecary Diaries season 2 episode 1: Maomao becomes a teacher as Shisui is introduced

The Apothecary Diaries season 2 episode 1 was released on January 10, 2025. Maomao requested many books from her Consort House as she wanted the maids of the Imperial Palace to learn how to read. However, the books contain explicit content due to which Gaoshun restricted their release. Later that day, Maomao learned that her books were gifted to the Emperor.

During lunch, Xiaolin asked Maomao to teach her how to read and write, so the female protagonist became a teacher for her. In the last part of the episode, while Maomao and Ailan were walking Lady Gyokuyou's daughter through the Palace, they spotted a feral cat. After taking it in, the Emperor asked Maomao to take care of it at the request of his daughter.

Disclaimer: This article contains potential spoilers from The Apothecary Diaries season 2 episode 1.

The Apothecary Diaries season 2 episode 1: Maomao takes in a cat on the Emperor's request as a new character is introduced

Maomao as seen in the anime (Image via Toho Animation Studio and OLM)

The Apothecary Diaries season 2 episode 1, titled Cats and Furs, commenced with a focus on Maomao's Consort House where the old lady received an order from the Imperial Palace. The episode then shifted to the Inner Court of the Imperial Palace where Jinshi was greeting every consort. As he reached Lady Gyokuyou's house, she informed him that Maomao was with the doctor (quack).

As Jinshi rushed towards the doctor, he saw them brewing something up. Upon asking, Maomao told Jinshi and Gaoshun that she was making rose water from the leftover flowers (when Maomao painted a rose for the Garden Party). Moreover, Maomao also brewed alcohol just to create a disinfectant for cleaning Lady Gyokuyou's house (because the Consort was pregnant).

As Maomao was discussing things with Jinshi, The Apothecary Diaries season 2 episode 1 saw some guards bring a huge package for the female protagonist. Jinshi, as interested as ever, wanted to know what had arrived for Maomao. Maomao tried to cover it by saying that it was just some underwear.

Gaoshun as seen in the anime (Image via TOHO Animation Studio and OLM)

However, Gaoshun debunked her lies and Maomao told them she requested books from her Consort Palace. As claimed by the female protagonist in The Apothecary Diaries season 2 episode 1, Maomao was worried about all maids being illiterate and wanted to introduce them to writing through books, which in this case was a novel.

After careful inspection, Jinshi allowed the distribution of this novel. However, Gaoshun wanted the book censored (as it had many explicit drawings) and took it into custody. The next day, in The Apothecary Diaries season 2 episode 1, a book created a buzz in the palace. As expected, this was Maomao's book (presumably censored).

Moreover, it wasn't distributed as a whole. The Emperor was gifted some copies and gave one to each of his Consorts, who lent them to their ladies-in-waiting. However, Maomao was worried about the other ladies so she asked Ailan, one of Lady Gyokuyou's maids, to copy the book, as her handwriting was pretty, so they could distribute it.

Maomao and Xiaolin as seen in the anime (Image via Toho Animation Studio and OLM)

During lunchtime in The Apothecary Diaries season 2 episode 1, Xiaolin asked Maomao to teach her how to read and write because she wanted to become an independent woman after leaving the Palace. Maomao was impressed by her worries and patted her. She then taught her a few words by writing on the floor (sand).

The Apothecary Diaries season 2 episode 1 then shifted to Lady Gyokuyou's Palace where the Consort's daughter, Lingli, was as energetic as ever. After consulting Maomao, the Consort Gyokuyou asked Maomao to take Lingli outside the Palace for a stroll. So, the female protagonist, accompanied by Ailan and two guards, took Lingli outside the house for the first time.

As soon as they reached the main hall, Lingli bolted in a direction as if she were chasing something. Upon looking, she was going after a stray kitten. For the moment, Maomao tried catching the kitten. In a last stretch, as Maomao jumped towards the kitten, the latter jumped over the former's head. However, the kitten was caught by Shisui, a lady-in-waiting (as given by her attire).

Maomao and Maomao (kitten) as seen in the anime (Image via Toho Animation Studio and OLM)

After retrieving the kitten, The Apothecary Diaries season 2 episode 1 saw Maomao bring the kitten back to the quack doctor. Here, the cat was fed, cleaned, and given a place to rest. After asking the Emperor, the kitten was allowed to stay with Maomao for the time being until it was clean enough to be handled by Lingli.

Ironically, the kitten was named Maomao ('mao' meaning 'cat' in Chinese), the same as the female protagonist's name. In the last part of The Apothecary Diaries season 2 episode 1, the cat was nicknamed 'Rat Annihilator' because it took care of every rat in the room where herbs were being kept. Leaving everything aside, Maomao wasn't happy with how a feline had the same name as hers.

Read Also

Edited by Bharath S