Mirror
Episode 4 of The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 begins with Gyokuyou and her ladies-in-waiting showing Maomao a mirror. Gyokuyou tells Maomao that she received this mirror as a gift from a foreign country envoy. Maomao learns that the other consorts received mirrors too.
Gaoshun arrives. He, Maomao, and Hongniang head somewhere to discuss. Gaoshun relays a tale about two sisters with overprotective parents. He says the youngest sister got pregnant and ends the story. Then, our trio converse about the younger sister’s pregnancy.
Maomao argues one of the male servants didn’t impregnate the younger sister. She believes the younger sister’s body developed an illusion of pregnancy. Gaoshun tells Maomao he thinks the younger sister is pregnant. Then, Gaoshun changes the discussion.
Gaoshun says he wants to know how the younger sister slipped away unnoticed by her surveillance. He presents Hongniang and Maomao with a floor plan. This floor plan details where the sisters were located while under surveillance. Maomao and Gaoshun discuss the sisters’ escape options and the servants’ stationed positions.
As Maomao receives details about the situation from Gaoshun, she speculates that Gaoshun isn’t telling her everything. Gaoshun gives Maomao a gift from Jinshi. He says it’s an apology from Jinshi since he hasn’t given Maomao the Ox Bezoar he promised her in season 1.
Maomao takes the gift and learns it’s a bear’s bile. Maomao heads to her room to grab supplies. Then, Maomao returns to the meeting area. Maomao shares her thoughts on the young sister’s pregnancy fiasco. She claims only one girl was present in the area. She says a mirror was used to craft an optical illusion of the same girl. Maomao argues the same for the embroidery the girls supposedly worked on. She uses her tools to support her claim.
Maomao ponders the situation further as Gaoshun departs. Then, Maomao cuddles her bear bile. Jinshi tells Gaoshun that the high-ranking officials ordered him to bring them a woman who sheds tears of pearl to them.
Then, Jinshi holds a discussion with Maomao, Gyokuyou, and others about the pearl woman. Jinshi says a Western envoy wants to meet this woman. Maomao tells Jinshi that the woman is Madam.
Jinshi says there may be an issue with arranging a meeting between the envoy and Madam. He tells Maomao that he already scheduled a banquet with beautiful women to meet the envoy. However, the envoy wasn’t pleased with it. Jinshi confirms the envoy was a woman. He says the envoy controls the West and North trading posts.
Later, Maomao holds a meeting with Madam. Madam confirms she hosted an envoy 50 years ago. She describes the event’s site in detail. Madam states how troubling the setting was and how she adjusted to everything. Then, Madam presents Maomao with a painting of herself.
Madam says the envoy returned to their home country. She says the envoy commissioned someone to create this painting of her. Maomao brings the painting to Jinshi and Gaoshun. Maomao suggests they find a tall woman to portray Madam. Jinshi and Gaoshun argue it could be a challenging task.
Gaoshun reveals two envoys requested to see the pearl woman. Maomao tells Jinshi that she thought of someone who’d be perfect for the role. As the envoys wait to meet the pearl woman, the episode ends with Xiaolan performing her duties in a forest.
The Episode Review
Maomao tackles several cases in this week’s chapter of The Apothecary Diaries season 2. Fans will enjoy seeing Maomao rely on her wits and tools to help Gaoshun uncover the mystery surrounding the pregnant younger sister.
However, many people will question what Gaoshun was withholding. At the same time, the episode gives Madam’s character more depth. It’s nice knowing that she was a popular courtesan in the past. Fans will appreciate the author for delving into their side characters’ past times.
Hopefully, future episodes can expand upon the anime’s other supporting characters. Moreover, many fans will resonate with Jinshi’s concerns in this chapter. Anyone who has suffered from overwork will understand his desire to move past this envoy debacle.
Yet, it looks like Jinshi must perform cosplay duties to make that happen. Nevertheless, this was an enjoyable chapter of The Apothecary Diaries season 2.
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