The Apothecary Diaries: You Choose the Volume

Description

Volume 1

A palace servant trained in herbal medicine finds herself at the heart of imperial intrigue in this enthralling period mystery!

Maomao leads an unassuming life with her apothecary father, but kidnappers whisk her away to a world of consorts and serving women in the empire’s rear palace. Sold into imperial servitude, the girl keeps her quick wit, sharp mind, and medical knowledge a secret. But the head eunuch, Jinshi, shatters Maomao’s low profile when she catches his eye. He perceives her true skills and makes her a lady-in-waiting to the rear palace’s top consort. Can Maomao quietly pass her term as her lady’s food tester, or will observational prowess and curiosity push her into danger as she uncovers turmoil at court?

Volume 2

Dismissed from the rear palace, Maomao returns to service in the outer court—as the personal serving woman to none other than Jinshi! That doesn’t necessarily make her popular with the other ladies, but a bit of jealousy might be the least of her problems. A mysterious warehouse fire, an official with a very bad case of food poisoning, and the mysterious last will and testament of a deceased craftsman all demand her attention—but are these cases really separate, or do they share a troubling connection? Then there’s the mysterious military man who continually visits Jinshi. He’s strange, maybe even a little twisted…and he seems very interested in Maomao.

Volume 3

After putting on a successful and sensual(?) show of food tasting at the garden banquet, Maomao is the talk of the palace! But she soon discovers that notoriety isn’t the only thing the party has granted her! Her collection of hairpins from the event brings the young herbalist a brief window of freedom beyond the palace walls, as she returns to the pleasure district for the first time in ten months! But while reunions with her father and her friends await, so too does another mystery…

After explaining to Jinshi the circumstances behind the poisoned cup at the garden party, Maomao returns home to the pleasure district for the first time in ten months, thanks to the ornate hairpin she received at the party. But there, she gets swept up in yet another mystery?!

Volume 4

Though Maomao has left the palace behind and returned to her home in the pleasure district, it seems the Inner Court can’t do without her! Jinshi comes to the erstwhile food taster with a request involving the attempted poisoning of the Virtuous Consort during the garden banquet and the identity of the mastermind behind it!

Volume 5

Forced to the leave the Inner Palace, Maomao finds herself in the employ of none other than Jinshi, the seemingly ever-present thorn in her side! Immune to his charms, Maomao sets about learning the ways of life in the Outer Palace, where government officials and military officers go about the daily business of running the country.

Far from being fearful of her new surroundings, however, Maomao has her insatiable curiosity piqued by the soldier-occupied eastern wing, where she’s been forbidden to go but where it seems further mysteries await…

Volume 6

Maomao has proven her worth to the denizens of the palace time and time again, but she’s got her work cut out for her on this occasion!

When the ever luminous Jinshi asks for Maomao’s help in disguising himself to take care of business outside the palace walls, Maomao must dig deep to mar her employer’s heavenly charms! And to make the ploy believable, Maomao herself is roped in to a spot of theater as Jinshi’s companion.

But Jinshi’s “business” takes him right to the gates of the pleasure district! Has all Maomao’s hard work been for a mere assignation, or is there another mystery afoot?

Maomao succeeds in saving Jinshi from a horrific fate, proving herself indispensable to the palace once more!

But while she is given the chance to explain herself, Maomao has yet to learn that the treachery of the plot she has uncovered is woven deep into the fabric of the very palace in which she serves!

To truly unpick the mystery, Maomao will need her patience and her copious wits about her…

She’ll also need to watch her back, as she comes face-to-face with the sinister La Kan…

Written by Natsu Hyuuga, with art by Nekokurage

NHNK-APDI || loc. f