Watching the shenanigans of Maomao and Jinshi is often funny, so here are the most hilarious moments from the series!
The Apothecary Diaries (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto) spoilers ahead!
Episode 1, Jinshi Finds Maomao
Episode 1 shows how easily Jinshi finds out that it was Maomao who warned the concubines about the dangers of white powder. He simply shows the servants a piece of paper stating that the girl with freckles should stay, and Maomao is the only one who can read the message. It is effortless; it shows that Jinshi is quite smart, and it is also funny, especially as Maomao tries to pretend that she was not the one helping the concubines.
Episode 2, Maomao’s Little Dance
In Episode 2, Maomao is given access to a lot of ingredients since Jinshi wants her to make an aphrodisiac. Her delight is infectious, and the little dance she does at the thought of being able to make a drug is very funny, even if Jinshi does not appreciate it. Maomao in general gets excited by a lot of things that normal people would not consider exciting. This is just a prime example of that happening.
Episode 2, The Forbidden Treats
In the same Episode, Maomao has some leftovers from the aphrodisiac she created, so she makes some snacks for herself. Unfortunately, her fellow ladies-in-waiting get to them first. Maomao gets an earful for leaving something like that in the open, but we have a good chuckle at the expense of the poor ladies-in-waiting. At least they know that it works, right?
Episode 3, Maomao is Into Boy Love?
In Episode 3, Maomao wonders who Jinshi is. It is a very popular question in our fandom, but Maomao’s idea is a little spicy. As she imagines Jinshi together with the Emperor, Jinshi asks her if she is thinking about something inappropriate. Of course, Maomao denies it to our chuckles. Still, Maomao will keep thinking that Jinshi is into men for a while.
Episode 4, Keeping Maomao at Bay
Episode 4 is not the funniest one; it is about helping a dying woman survive. But still, the way Lihua’s ladies-in-waiting keep kicking Maomao out, complete with a chibi drawing, sound effects and bouncing, is amusing. It is especially funny since in the end, Jinshi assists her to get to her patient, and Maomao manages to help her. Otherwise, the series would have been cut short since Maomao had been told to save Lihua by the emperor, leaving her no room for error.
Episode 6, Scary Maomao
In Episode 5, we learn that Lihua’s ladies-in-waiting are still afraid of Maomao. We are even shown a flashback to Maomao using kabedon to make sure that she is understood. As a result, Maomao’s presence is enough for Lihua’s servants to run away. Even when Maomao offers them heated stones for their comfort, they do not want to have anything to do with Maomao. Their loss, really, but their reactions are hilarious.
Episode 7, Tired Jinshi
In Episode 7, we are learning more about the cases of poisoning and wooden tablets. Jinshi is, for once, not surrounded by his bishounen sparkles and cannot handle any more pressure. So he does what all of us do when we don’t want to do our work: he lays his head on the table. He looks almost cuter this way, and we get to chuckle at how this normally composed man becomes anything but. It is especially funny when Gaoshun tries to get Jinshi to stop acting like a child. The dynamics between those two is great!
Episode 7, Maomao Pulls Out All the Stops
In Episode 7, Maomao has to convince Lihaku to help her get a vacation to visit her home. Lihaku acts all tough at first, but then Maomao pulls out recommendation letters to the Verdigris House. She also uses the pins she got from Lihua and Jinshi to pretend that she has more options — of course, she would have never asked Jinshi, but Lihaku does not have to know that. This is how Lihaku learns that Maomao is the protagonist, and she gets her way.
Episode 9, Proposed Legislation
In Episode 9, after dealing with the case of Minister Kounen, Maomao is rewarded with some alcohol. Then, Jinshi teases her by claiming that he is working on a legislation proposal that would prohibit alcohol for anyone below 21. Maomao, who is 17, is vehemently opposed and starts to beg Jinshi not to accept that proposal. It is quite funny to watch Maomao beg Jinshi to still be able to drink some.
Episode 10, Scared Jinshi
In Episode 10, Jinshi tries to get Maomao to lick honey from his fingers. While that is not cute, and we disapprove of him doing that, we are all for Gyokuyou putting the fear of god in Jinshi for doing something so inappropriate. It is very funny to watch Jinshi ashamed and a little scared of Gyokuyou to run right out of the room with his honey.